Mortality in Emergency Department of Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital, a tertiary care centre in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: There are limited literatures regarding mortality studies in emergency department of different hospitals of Nepal. The objectives of this study were to review and highlight the demographic patterns of mortality and to determine the frequency and causes of accident and emergency deaths.

Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out in emergency department of Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu for a period of 3 years from April 2013 to 14th April 2016. The study variables were analyzed with descriptive statistics using software SPSS 16.

Results: A total of 35,734 cases attended the emergency department during this period with mortality rates of 0.19%, 0.21% to 0.35% on consecutive 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year of study. There were 51(56%) males and 40(44%) females. The age of the cases ranged from 1month 23days to 86years old. Highest number of mortality (30.8%) was seen in the age group of more than 70 years old. Medical causes for death was far more common than surgical causes (83.5% versus 16.5%), Cardiac arrest being the commonest (n=19, 20.9%). Maximum number of cases (n=44, 48.4%) died within 1 to 6 hours of arrival to the emergency department.

Conclusions: This study on mortality patterns highlights the causes of common mortalities in one of the emergency department of tertiary care centre in Nepal. This study will provide a basic data to develop competent manpower and good infrastructure with latest equipments in order to optimize positive outcome and to strengthen the emergency setting.