Neurological Profile

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the Neurological profile of patients residing in therural areas of Sindh during their visit to a tertiary care hospital in Nawabshah. Study Design:Retrospective observational study. Setting: Outpatient Department of Neurology at the PeoplesUniversity of Medical & Health Sciences for Women (PUMHSW), Nawabshah. Period: From14.4.2014 to 31.3.2015. Methods: A questionnaire regarding different Neurological disorderswas developed and data about patients presenting in OPD were registered. The data collectedwas tabulated and analyzed using SPSS 19. Results: A total of 861 patients were registered.Out of these 409 (47.5%) were male and 452 (52.5%) were females with male to female ratio of0.9. The age ranged from 06 months to 90 years and the mean age was 31.57± SD 16.7 7. Out of861 patients 477 (55.4%) visited neurology OPD on their own, 314 (36.47%) on the advice of theirfamily and friends and only 70(8.13%) were referrals by the general practitioners. Majority of thepatients 475 (55.17%) were the residents of villages and small towns while 386 (44.83%) wereresiding in the city of Nawabshah. The frequency of major category of neurological disordersincluding Headache, Epilepsies, Stroke, Neuromuscular disorders, Movement disorders,Spinal cord disorders, Dementias, Psychiatric disorders and Miscellaneous group was 33.%,19.%, 7%, 9%, 4%, 1%, 2%, 16% and 9% respectively. Conclusion: Neurological diseases arecommon among patients residing in the rural areas of Sindh. Headaches, epilepsies, stroke,psychiatric, neuromuscular and miscellaneous disorders were frequent presentations. Lack ofadequate referrals by the general physicians needs to be addressed emphatically. This studyprojects the burden of neurological problems in the under served areas.

Profile of neurological disorders in a tertiary center of education in orthopedics

“…In general tertiary hospitals, headaches are the principal cause of referrals. 9 In rehabilitation centers, traumatic brain injuries from falls and motor vehicle accidents are the most frequent causes of referral for neurological care. 10 Studies of neurological profiles of diagnoses in tertiary hospitals of another medical subspecialty are rare.…”

“…10 Studies of neurological profiles of diagnoses in tertiary hospitals of another medical subspecialty are rare. 9 10 11 Moreover, neurology education is part of the medical residency program in orthopedics in Canada and Brazil. 12 13…”