SYMPTOMATOLOGY IN THE INTERNAL MEDICINE WARDS

ANALYSIS OF PATTERN OF REFERRAL IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: This study had been conducted to highlight the pattern of presenting complaints of the patients admitted in internal
medicine wards of a tertiary care hospital. Design: This observational study was conducted in internal medicine wards of Alnoor Specialist
Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from 31 -08-2004 to 14-10-2004. Methodology: The data had been collected retrospectively from the files and
consisted of demography, wards allocations, duration of stay, and frequency as well as duration of symptoms at the time of presentation. Data
was analyzed by SPSS version 16 and p<0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Out of total 103 subjects, majority 21 (20.4%) belonged
to age group 65-74years. Saudis 75(73%) as well as males 59(58%) predominated. Saudis were older and stayed longer than non-saudis (55.5
vs. 45.8years; p<0.05) and (9.3 vs. 6.3days; p<0.05), respectively. Most frequent symptom was fever while 41.2% symptoms had history of
2-7days. Only 3.9% patients presented with >6 types of complaints. Diseases of the circulatory system were more prominent (16.5%). More
than two third patients improved (75.7%) while 9.7% died. Conclusion: Maximum patients were within 65 to 74yrs of age. Saudis were older
and stayed longer than non-Saudis. Fever was the commonest presenting complaint. Minimum patients presented with >6 complaints and
diseases of the circulatory system predominated. A few died but most of them improved.