Prevalence and Pattern of Paediatric Endocrine Disorders in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Paediatric endocrine disorders (PEDs) are on the rise and is assumed to be due to changing lifestyles, environmental pollutants, growing awareness, and improved diagnostic tools. The need to generate data with regards to PEDs warrants attention, especially in settings where it has not been previously reported and so given less attention. Aims: To describe the burden and pattern of paediatric endocrine disorders over two years among children and adolescents attending the paediatric endocrine clinic of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics (Endocrine Unit), Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. One-point data collation of children with PEDs seen over 2 years from 1st February 2021 and 1st February 2023. Methodology: All case records of patients seen at the paediatric endocrine outpatient clinic were included. Data on age, sex, diagnosis, and outcome were extracted and analysed using SPSS vs 25. Results: A total of 119 children were seen with PEDs, giving a prevalence of 0.9%. There were 73 (61.3%) females and 2 (1.7%) presented with disorders of sexual differentiation. The median age was 108 months and ranged between 17 days to 16 years. The top five PEDs according to the International Classification of Paediatric Endocrine Diagnoses(ICPED) classification were thyroid disorders (26;21.8%), disorders of pancreas/lipids (23;19.3%), calcium, phosphate metabolism and bone disorders (14;11.8%), Testicular/ male reproductive tract disorders (13;10.9%) and pubertal disorders (12;10.1%). Outcomes revealed most (56;47.1%) were referred, (16;13.4%) were lost-to-follow-up and (2;1.7%) died. Conclusion: Thyroid disorders, type 1 diabetes mellitus, obesity and nutritional rickets ranked highest among the PEDs in our setting. There is a need to raise awareness of PEDs among healthcare professionals and the general population to improve early presentation to the clinic.