<b>Causes of Death, other than that due to Prostatic Cancer, in Males as seen in Ibadan, South Western Nigeria: A Prospective Post-Mortem Study</b>

Abstract

Introduction: A Prospective cohort study was undertaken to determine causes of death, other than that due to prostatic cancer, in males.

Patients and method: Seventy nine patients aged between 30 and 86 years who died of non-prostate related diseases were randomly selected for systematic examination of the prostate glands. In addition, full post-mortem examinations were performed on each case and the causes of death were determined. The only exclusion criterion was the presence of a clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Results: Amonst this cohort of men, cardiovascular diseases were the commonest cause of death as a group accounting for 38% of cases. This consisted of hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. Next were the violent death/unnatural death group (24.1%) which included severe head injury following road traffic accident, gunshot injury, burns, electrocution, traumatic rupture of the spleen with associated liver rupture during sporting activity, and severe haemorrhage following surgery. Other causes included neoplastic diseases (10.1%), gastrointestinal diseases (10.1%), metabolic/endocrine diseases (7.6%) and infection related causes (6.3%).

Conclusion: In contrast to the previous teaching about infection in Africa, cardiac diseases appear to have become the number one cause of death in adult male Nigerians and neoplastic diseases as well as metabolic/endocrine disorders have also become rather important causes of mortality. All these causes have significant environmental association and suggest nagative adaptions in more recent times.