TIME OF HOSPITAL PRESENTATION OF ADULT PATIENTS WITH HAEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES AND IMPACT ON CLINICAL OUTCOME – A SINGLE CENTRE STUDY

Time of Hospital Presentation

Abstract

Background: Haematological malignancies cause significant morbidity and mortality and are not uncommon in resource-limited-low-income countries. However, the types, pattern of presentation and treatment outcomes vary across regions. We assessed the time of hospital presentation with the haematologist and its impact on survival over a period of three years.

Methodology: This longitudinal study evaluated patients who presented with haematological malignancies between 2021–2024 at the Delta state University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara. Haematological malignancies were categorized as either early or late presentation based on available staging systems.

Results: One hundred and thirty-two patients were evaluated. Males were affected more and patients aged 55-64 years were mainly affected. 43.9% of the patients presented late with advanced stage of disease. Of all the cancers, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was the most prevalent (20.4%). 70.7% of patients who presented late died during the period of the study and the commonest cause of death was chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (24.6%). There was significant association between time of presentation and mortality (p<0.001).

Conclusion: We found an association between time and stage of presentation and survival. Patients who presented late had a worse stage of the disease and the outcome was poor.