Journal of General Practice

Colonoscopy Findings among Patients a Sub-Saharan Hospital: A 6-year Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Iman Hakim Din, Francis Basimbe* and Ignatius Kakande

Background: Whereas Colorectal Diseases (CRD) is common throughout the world, their incidence and prevalence vary with different geographic locations worldwide. This study was aimed at determining the indications and findings at colonoscopy performed at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya Endoscopy Unit from January 2013 to December 2018.

Methods: This was a 6-year descriptive cross-sectional study based on registry of patients screened for colorectal diseases. The study population included all patients referred for colonoscopy at the Endoscopy Unit of St Francis Hospital Nsambya for suspected colorectal diseases. Continuous variables were presented as mean and standard deviation (SD) while categorical variables presented as proportions. Independent sample t-tests were employed for comparisons of continuous, normally distributed variables. Two-sided tests with a 0.05 significance level were used. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 14 (Stata Corp LP, Texas).

Results: A total of 806 patients underwent colonoscopy at the endoscopy unit between January 2013 and December 2018. Their average age was 53.37 ± 18.44 years. Males accounted for 62.5% of the cases. The most common indications for colonoscopy in descending order were Rectal Bleeding (60.6%), abdominal pain (49.1%), constipation (30.4%) anemia-unknown etiology (28.9%) and weight loss of unknown etiology (15.4%). The commonest endoscopic findings were internal haemorrhoids (35.2%), followed by colitis (27.2%), tumors (18.20%), diverticulosis (17%) and polyps (11.3%). Non-specific colitis and internal haemorrhoids increased significantly from 5% to 34% during the study period. The colonoscopy findings were normal in 18.9%.

Conclusion: Our study findings indicate that there is a high prevalence of colorectal diseases in our population. The most common indication for colonoscopy was Rectal bleeding while the most common endoscopic finding was internal hemorrhoids, colitis and colonic tumors.