TITLE:
Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Hospitalized Patients with Chronic Rheumatic Disease at Cocody University Hospital in Abidjan
AUTHORS:
Ehaulier Soh Christian Louis Kouakou, Charles Sougué, Konan Joe Clauvis Yao, Aissata Traore, Joseph Kan Enock Koffi, Jean Jacques Goua, Francine Same Bebey, Phillipe Goupille, Jean Claude Felix Daboiko
KEYWORDS:
Chronic Rheumatic Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Abidjan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.13 No.3,
August
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: Objective: To study the epidemiological and diagnostic features of chronic
rheumatic disease (CRD) in a black population in sub-Saharan Africa. Patients and Methods: Retrospective descriptive study over eight years
(January 2005 to December 2012) of patients seen for CRD in rheumatology
hospitalization at the CHU de Cocody in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Results: Of 3147 hospitalized patients, 92 had CRD, a frequency of 2.9%. The mean age of
patients was 43.50 ± 15.6
years (extremes: 10 to 79 years). The sex ratio was 0.08 (7 men and 85 women).
The socio-economic level was low in 44 patients (47.8%), medium in 44 patients
(47.8%), and high in 4 patients (4.4%). The reasons for consultation were
polyarthritis (64.1%), polyarthralgia (30.4%), and oligoarthritis (5.4%). The
mean duration of symptomatology was 19 months (range:
3 to 20 years). The mean length of hospital stay was 14.2 ± 7.7 days (range: 2
to 36 days). The CRD observed were: rheumatoid arthritis (59.8%), systemic lupus erythematosus (23.9%), mixed
connective tissue disease (6.5%), undifferentiated connective tissue
disease (3.3%), polymyositis (3.3%), systemic scleroderma (2.2%), and systemic
vasculitis (1%). Conclusion: CRD is not uncommon in rheumatology
hospitals in Abidjan. Diagnostic delays are long, and rheumatoid arthritis and
systemic lupus erythematosus are the most frequently encountered conditions.