Open AccessReferral Pattern and Haematological Disorders in a Tertiary Hospital
Author(s) -
AM Onoja,
AI Nwannadi,
AT Onoja,
IH Aba,
ED Jatau,
Patrick Olanrewaju Osho,
OO Alao,
SA Ogli
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of biomedical research and clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2651-5865
pISSN - 2636-7378
DOI - 10.46912/jbrcp.190
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , throat , nose , pediatrics , blood count , outpatient clinic , complete blood count , retrospective cohort study , surgery , family medicine
This study aimed to determine the pattern of referrals and haematological disorders at Benue State University Teaching Hospital. This was a retrospective study of records of a total of 222 adults and Paediatric patients suspected to have haematological disorders, seen and referred from different clinics and wards within and outside the study facility to the Haematologists for evaluation between June 2012 to July 2019 inclusive. These patients were clerked by the Haematologists, peripheral blood samples were taken for full blood count, red cell indices, reticulocyte count and peripheral blood film examination. Bone Marrow Aspiration was done on all the patients and the slides examined. Where indicated, further flowcytometry was done for complete diagnosis. Of the 222 referred, 127 (57.2%) were males while 95(42.8%) were females, with M:F ratio of 1.3:1. The age range of patients was 3 to 95 years with median age of 36.5 years. Those in the age group of 16-35 years constituted the majority 81(36.5%), while the least 5(2.3%) referred cases were in the age group of 76 years and above. The highest referral to the Haematologists was 40(18%) in 2015 and 2018 each. The bulk of referrals to the Haematologist was from Medicine 103(46.4%), followed by referrals from General Outpatient Department (GOPD) 29(13.1%) and then Paediatrics 27(12.2%), the least was from Ear Nose and Throat (ENT). The main indication for referral was Unexplained Anaemia 68(30.6%), followed by Splenomegaly 26(11.7%). One hundred and eighty (81.1%) of the total referred cases had at least an established haematological disorder. The most common haematological disorder established from the total referred cases was Combined Iron Deficiency Anaemia and Megaloblastic Anaemia (IDA/MA) 52(23.4%). This was followed by Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) 23(10.4%). In conclusion, referrals from other physicians to the Haematologists have very high likelihood of haematological disorder. We recommend that attending Haematologists treat all referred cases with very high index of suspicion so as not to miss a potentially life threatening haematological disorder.