Publication:

Comprehensive analysis of patterns, comorbidities and outcomes of patients admitted to ENT under tertiary hospital in Botswana

Background Ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions are a significant yet underrecognized contributor to the global disease burden, particularly in developing countries. In Botswana, there is limited local data on the clinical profiles, comorbidities, and outcomes of ENT patients. This study aimed to evaluate the patterns of disease, associated comorbidities, and treatment outcomes of patients admitted to the ENT department at a major tertiary referral center in Botswana.

Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted via systematic chart review of 108 patient records for admissions occurring between January 2020 and December 2023. Data were extracted using a standardized tool and analyzed to assess demographic trends, clinical diagnoses, comorbidities, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes.

Results The findings from our study indicate that rhinology (29%) and otology (27.8%) cases accounted for the highest proportion of admissions to ENT ward. Nearly half (49.3%) of the patients had comorbidities, with human immunodeficiency virus (21.3%) being the most prevalent. Surgical management was the primary mode of treatment in 56% of cases with total in patient Mortality rate of 0.9%.

Conclusions The findings underscore the substantial burden of preventable and treatable ENT conditions requiring tertiary-level care, often complicated by comorbidities like HIV. The findings provide clinicians with a clearer understanding of the pattern of ENT conditions. We recommend further comprehensive studies that include data from hospitals across Botswana, inpatient populations, and patient outcomes to better characterize the national burden and trends of ENT conditions.