Profiling Disease Patterns Using ICD-11 at a University Hospital in Ghana: A Retrospective Analysis of...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Disease classification systems have evolved significantly, with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) becoming a global standard.
• The adoption and application of ICD-11 in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ghana, have faced limitations.
• Understanding disease patterns in specific populations, like university students, is crucial for targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile disease patterns among students at a Ghanaian university clinic.
• To assess temporal trends in disease incidence using statistical models.
• To provide data for public health and policy development in Ghana.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 107,393 patient records from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Students' Clinic (2018-2021).
• Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations) were used for data summarization.
• Negative binomial regression models with an offset term were employed to analyze temporal disease trends.

Main Results:

• The most common morbidities were certain infections/parasitic diseases, respiratory conditions, and unspecified symptoms/signs.
• Significant increasing trends were observed in mental, behavioral, or neurodevelopmental disorders (IRR=1.50).
• Increases were also noted for neoplasms (IRR=1.22) and endocrine, nutritional, or metabolic diseases (IRR=1.22).

Conclusions:

• Infections, respiratory conditions, and unspecified symptoms were prevalent among university students in Kumasi, Ghana.
• The study highlights the need for tailored public health strategies and policy interventions.
• The findings contribute essential epidemiological data for improving student healthcare in the region.