The Contribution of Respiratory Diseases to Mortality in Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Bayelsa State Nigeria

Background: One of the most important ways of knowing the efficiency of a health care delivery system in a health facility is by assessing of the causes and the number of deaths per annum. Diseases of the respiratory system are leading causes of death and disability globally. However, there are insufficient researches on the contribution of respiratory diseases to mortality in Nigeria. This study researched the impact of respiratory diseases on mortality in NDUTH, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a 3-year retrospective descriptive study of mortality from all causes including respiratory that were recorded in NDUTH from January 2016-December 2018. The data for the research was obtained from records of death that took place in NDUTH during the study period. Statistical Programme for Social Sciences version 21.0 (SPSS) software was used in the analysis of the data. Results: Respiratory diseases constituted 4.2% of the mortality while the highest cause of death was infectious diseases (27.8%) and neurological diseases was 15.6%, while mortality from hematological conditions was the lowest (1.5%). Pulmonary Tuberculosis was the highest cause of mortality among the respiratory diseases (31.6%). HIV-TB co-infection constituted the commonest co-morbid condition that contributed to the mortality (66.6%). Obstructive Lung Diseases (COPD and Bronchiectasis), and chest malignancy as causes of deaths occurred more commonly among males than females. Conclusion: In this index study, respiratory diseases accounted for a small percentage of the mortality during this period. Further studies are needed in this population to explore the effects of gas and crude oil pollution on the respiratory system