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Musculoskeletal disorders in the elderly in rheumatology practice in Burkina Faso


D D Ouédraogo
Z I Tiendrébéogo
R P Ouédraogo
F B Bori-Bata
F Kaboré
E Tiendrébéogo
J Drabo

Abstract

Objective: To study the frequency of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders in the elderly in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Patients and methods: A retrospective study was conducted from February 2006 to March 2011 in the University Hospital Yalgado Ouédraogo in Burkina Faso. All patients aged over 65 years seen at the Department of Rheumatology were included.
Results: Four hundred and twenty-four patients (11.85%) aged over 65 years were identified among the total of 4084. The mean age was 70.15± 23.26 years with a range of 65-95 (mode: 70 years, median 69 years). There were 336 (69.4%) women and 148 men (30.6%). Rheumatic diseases were dominated by osteoarthritis(OA) and degenerative disease: low back pain / sciatica: 117 (24.17%) cases, OA of the knee: 111 (22.93%), tendinitis of the shoulder: 52 (10.74%), several OA (6%). Polymyalgia rheumatica was diagnosed in 15 (3%) patients. Only two cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and one case of ankylosing spondylitis were noted. Osteoporosis was reported in three patients. Fifty-five (11.36%) had diabetes mellitus (type 2), 221 (45.66%) had hypertension and 15 (3%) heart disease.
Conclusion: The elderly have an important place in rheumatology practice in Ouagadougou. Osteoarthritis and degenerative MSK disorders are common and osteoporosis, chondrocalcinosis and RA rare. Polymyalgia rheumatica was the most common inflammatory disorder. Comorbidities were dominated by hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Musculoskeletal diseases; Elderly; Osteoarthritis; Low back pain

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print ISSN: 2307-2482