International Journal of Nursing

Ageing and Chronic Diseases in Ghana: A Case Study of Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital
Prince Owusu Adoma, Elijah Yendaw

Abstract
Chronic diseases have become the leading cause of death and illness in sub-Saharan Africa particularly in countries where they coexist with infectious and parasitic diseases. This study analyzed the varying types and patterns of chronic diseases among the aged in Ghana using a facility based data for 2004 and 2009 years’ records. In all, 1333 patient folders were extracted and used for the study. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study.
The study revealed that Hypertensive heart disease was the major heart-related chronic diseases reported in 2004 and 2009 while diabetes topped the list of all reported non-heart related chronic diseases. Females reported chronic diseases than males in both years. But reported cases for diabetes were prevalent among males in 2009. The study recommends that much priority should be given to chronic diseases in Ghana (in particular hypertensive heart disease) since it poses significant public health burden among the aged population.

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