Profile of neurological disorders in an adult neurology clinic in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Although the burden of neurological disorders is highest among populations in developing countries there is a dearth of data on the clinical spectrum of these disorders.

Objective: To profile the frequency of neurologic disorders and basic demographic data in an adult neurology out-patient service commissioned in 2011 in Kumasi, Ghana.

Methods: The study was conducted at the neurology clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Over a three year period, all medical records of patients enrolled at the out-patient neurology clinic was reviewed by a neurologist and neurological diagnoses classified according to ICD-10.

Results: 1812 adults enrolled for care in the neurology out-patient service between 2011 and 2013. This comprised of 882 males and 930 females (male: female ratio of 1.0: 1.1) with an overall median age of 54 (IQR, 39-69) years. The commonest primary neurological disorders seen were strokes, epilepsy and seizure disorders, and movement disorders at frequencies of 57.1%, 19.8%, and 8.2% respectively.

Conclusions: Cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy and movement disorders were among the commonest neurological disorders and the major contributors to neurologic morbidity among Ghanaians in an urban neurology clinic.

Keywords: Demography; Ghana; Neurologic disorders; Spectrum.

Fig. 1

Age and gender distribution of stroke patients at a neurology clinic in a tertiary referral centre in Ghana.

Fig. 2

Age and gender distribution of patients with seizure disorders at a neurology clinic in a tertiary referral centre in Ghana.