Uncovering the Burden of Urologic Disease: Admissions Patterns at the Main Teaching Hospital of Ethiopia

Background: Limited data exists profiling the urologic needs of populations in sub-Saharan Africa. As the region builds training programs for urology, such data can inform strategic program planning and investment. The objective of this study was to describe admissions patterns for urologic disease at an academic medical center in Ethiopia.
Methods: Retrospective review of admission, discharge, and operative logs of the urology service from November 2011 to October 2014 was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Data were collected on patient demographics, length of hospital stay, specific diagnoses, condition classifications, and procedures performed, generating descriptive statistics.
Results: A total of 1,149 urologic procedures were reviewed. Patients were predominantly male (74%) with median age of 43 years. The most common condition was urolithiasis (31%), followed by malignant tumors (25%) and benign tumors (14%). Almost half of patients underwent open surgical procedures (47%). Median inpatient stay was 14 days.
Conclusions: The breadth and volume of patients treated hints at the large, unmet burden of urologic disease in Ethiopia. A large percentage of patients underwent open procedures and had prolonged inpatient lengths of stay. Continued research to understand urologic disease patterns and increase access to specialty care in this setting is needed.

Keywords
Ethiopia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Urological Surgical Procedures; Health Care Utilization