Pattern of Otorhinolaryngology Disorders seen in Geriatric patients at a private Otorhinolaryngologic clinic in Enugu

Aims: Life expectancy among Nigerians is improving and they are living longer now than previously. This paper is about a study of the peculiar Otorhinolaryngology disorders seen among geriatric patients at Balsam Clinics, Enugu, Nigeria. Method: This is a hospital based, retrospective study for the four years 2000-2003. Result: A total of 5096 new patients attended Balsam Clinics during the study period, January 2000 to December 2003. Of these, 294 were aged 65 years and above. Ten of the 294 patients were excluded from the study because of incomplete data leaving 284 geriatric patients for the study. There were 151 males and 133 females. The most prevalent Otological disorders were presbyacusis (71), otitis media (41) impacted cerumen in external auditory canal (30) and chronic suppurative otitis media (29). The most prevalent rhinological disorders were chronic sinusitis (14), epistaxis (8), while chronic pharyngitis (7) and carcinoma larynx (6) led laryngological disorders . Conclusions: We conclude that demand for hearing rehabilitation programmes will be on the increase to improve the quality of life of these senior citizens. Key words: presbyacusis, geriatric Nigerians, Otorhinolarngology. Nigerian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Vol.2(1) 2005: 13-1