Prevalence of hypercalcaemia in Shagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Nine hundred and two (902) patients were randomly selected from the patients that reported in the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Shagamu, Nigeria. The period of study was 2 years. The prevalence of hypercalcaemia was found to be 3.79%, (Calcium level = 12.75 ± 2.30 mg/100ml), this finding is important because it calls for a greater concern in screening patients for hypercalcaemia. 61.76% of hypercalcaemic patients were diagnosed for malignant diseases (Calcium level = 13.11 ± 2.06mg/100ml). The malignant diseases ranged from various degrees of lymphoma to malignant ulcer. 38.24% were diagnosed for non-malignant diseases (Calcium level = 12.11 ± 1.08mg/100ml. The non-malignant diseases ranged from sepsis to respiratory diseases. Lymphoma constituted 35.29% of hypercalcaemic patients (Calcium level = 13.68 ± 2.20mg/100ml).

Keywords: biochemical screening, hypercalcaemic patients, prevalence

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 149-152