Analysis of Mortality in a Dermatological Affections Referral Center in Sub-Saharan Africa, Abidjan, République de Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Objectives: To document patients who died in Dermatology Department at University Teaching
Hospital (UTH) of Treichville; describe epidemiological aspects; indicate the various dermatological
diseases associated; specify the immediate causes; identify the determinants.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical referred.
Included were all hospitalized patients died in the Dermatology and Venereology service
of Treichville University Hospital from January 2000 through December 2014.
Results: One thousand seven-hundred and thirty-five patients were hospitalized. The hospital
mortality was 10.26% (178 deaths). The average age of the death was 43.16 years; the sex ratio
was 0.83. Patients who had no source of income were the most numerous (61.53%). The average
hospital stay was 20.05 days. Patients had at the entrance an altered condition in 49.43% of
cases and 46.62% in middle condition. Those who regularly bought their drugs were 58.21%.
Those who died in the second half of the month were the most numerous (55.61%). Dermatosis
groups associated deaths were: infectious dermatosis 41.57%, 29.77% tumor dermatitis
and drug eruptions 16.85%. Of the 178 deaths, the 1st 3 are pathologies associated fasciitis
(50 cases), Kaposi’s sarcoma (46 cases) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (17 cases). Respiratory
distress (41.31%) and septic shock (36.52%) were the main immediate causes of death.
Anemia (41.40%), tuberculosis (10.82%) and diabetes (10.19%) were the major comorbidities.
Serology was positive in 92.5% of dead patients who have realized their HIV status (n=80).
Significantly associated determinants were essentially the regular bought of drugs (p=0.013),
the altered condition (p=0.033), death hours (p=0.023) and comorbidities (p=00000).
Conclusion: Mortality is a reality in the Dermatology and Venereology at UTH of Treichville.
These determinants are numerous and some need to be better studied to identify true risk factors
in order to make appropriate recommendations.