Respiratory presentations to acute services at a tertiary hospital in South Africa

• DOI: 10.7196/samj.2021.v111i11.15711
• Publication Date: 2021-11-05T15:35:36Z
• Authors: V Ngah; P Maud; N Baines; R Mistry; N Schrueder; C F N Koegelenberg; E M Irusen; K Mortimer; B Allwood
• Keywords: Tertiary care

Respiratory diseases account for >10% of the global burden disease when measured in disability-adjusted life-years. The chronic respiratory (CRDs) increases as world's population ages, with a much greater increase low- to middle-income countries.To characterise and quantify reasons acute presentations care services at tertiary hospital Cape Town, South Africa.A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Casualty registers electronic record databases were reviewed determine diagnoses consecutive patients attending casualty unit from May 2019 January 2020.A total 1 053 individual presented primary diagnosis. Fewer than 10% admissions outside Town metropole, while >60% subdistrict immediately adjacent hospital. Of all patients, 8.3% readmitted least once within 9-month period. Six hundred forty-three (61.1%) non-CRDs. main presentation these pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) (n=224; 21.3%), other infections including lower tract infections, pneumonia bronchitis (n=272; 25.8%), cancer (n=140; 13.3%). Haemoptysis seen 9.8% mainly explained by post-tuberculosis lung (PTLD) (37.9%) PTB (36.9%). 410 (38.9%) had an underlying CRD, obstructive (COPD) being most common (n=192; 18.2%), followed PTLD (n=88; 8.5%) asthma (n=52; 5.1%).Over period, primary/secondary level indications, highlighting disparity accessing services. COPD predominated among CRDs, cancers common. A high readmission rate found several diseases, suggesting potential targeted interventions prevent both readmissions reduce utilisation costs.