Introduction

Pattern of otorhinolaryngoloy head and neck diseases in Outpatient Clinic ( ENT OPD Clinic) varies depending on the countries to large extent. Knowing the pattern of such diseases in Malaysia would help define the content and extent of medical curriculum involving otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases. This is relevant as the local medical graduates would then have relatively enriched knowledge and skill in managing the relatively common and prevailing diseases. In this regard, a study of the otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases in Outpatient Clinic in Sarawak General Hospital was carried out to determine the pattern of otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Methods

This is a retrospective study done on all the patients seen in the ENT OPD Clinic of Sarawak General Hospital, which is the only major referral center for the State of Sarawak , Malaysia. The study period was from July 2003 to June 2004. All the patients' clinical notes and their attendance sheets were checked with respect to their personal data including age, sex and ethnic or race groups. Their diagnoses and relevant investigations to confirm the diagnoses were checked and the results of this study analyzed statistically, using SPSS where relevant.

Results & Discussion

In the 12 months of the study period July 2003 to June 2004 , there were 8118 patients seen in the ENT OPD Clinic and it averaged 676 per month. Of the total of 8118 patients were new patients (about 12%) and 1112 (13.7%) paediatric cases. The male to female ratio is 1: 1.3. The age ranges from one-month-old neonate to elderly of 92 years old, with a male mean of 38 (SD 31.6) and female mean of 41 (SD 33.4).

On the average, 12.5 % of the patients seen in each clinic session were new cases. These new cases were referred from Hospital Accident & Emergency Department (15.3%), other Specialty clinics (22.0%), peripheral general clinics, called Polyclincs locally (41.7%), follow-up after treatment in In-Patient wards (6.6%), other public hospitals

(7.0%), private clinics (2.3%), and miscellaneous ( 5.1%). In the ENT OPD Clinic, majority (95%) of the cases were initially seen by ENT specialists and then on follow-up by both the Specialists & Medical Officers with gradually more patients seen by the Medical Officers as the patients' condition becoming stabilized.

Table 1 shows the types of clinical conditions in term of their diagnoses and percentage incidences ( number of patients with the conditions out of the total of 8118). The top 5 most common groups of ENT diseases are rhinitis (20.2%), chronic otitis media (12.3%), nasopharyngealcarcinoma(NPC) (10.5%), tonsillitis (8.1%) and nasal polyposis (5.2%). These figures include both new and follow-up patients.

The rhinitis group consists of allergic rhinitis (85%), vasomotor rhinits (10%), mixed allergic and vasomotor rhinits and nonspecific rhinits (5%). Commonest allergens are of the inhalant type, mainly dust and pollens, with slight increase in patient attendance in fruit flowering seasons in June & July of each year.

The second most common group, the chronic otitis media, is represented by 2 main types, the tubotympanic diseases ( 80%) where mainly central or large subtotal perforations of eardrum were noted, and attico-antral diseases (8%) where attic perforation and cholesteatoma noted. The remaining 12% include serous otitis media and atelectatic otitis media.. The serous otitis media was noted manly in children (60%) and the remaining 40% in adult patients. In adult, serous otitits media is noted in patients with nasopharyngealcarcinoma (30%) before, during and after treatment. The other 70% were from patients with chronic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis and upper respiratory tract infection.

The third most common group is NPC, with the majority of patients being male(69%) and local ethnic group, Bidayu (61%), followed by Chinese(32%). The NPC types are WHO types II 43%) & III ( 48%).

Tonsillitis group comes after NPC group, with majority being recurrent or chronic tonsillitis (87%), and in paediatric ages (78%).

Nasal polyposis is the 5 ^th most common group and these consist of mainly ethmoid polyps(72%), antrochoanal polyp ( 11%) and polypoid middle meatal area(8%).

Table 2 shows the percentage incidences, in age group, sex and race or ethnic, of the 5 most common disease groups mentioned above. It is noted that majority of the adults have rhinitis, chronic otitis media, NPC and nasal polyposis whereas majority of the children have tonsillitis

In the sex incidences, majority of the males have NPC and nasal polyposis.

In the race or ethnic incidence, Bidayuh tops in NPC, nasal polyposis and tonsillitis, whereas Malay tops in rhinitis and chronic otitis media.

In the literature search on the available journals and books, there is one book titled “ A Review of Diseases in Malaysia” by Dr Lim Kean Ghee ₁ , which mentioned some ENT diseases known of some prevalence in Malaysia in general. Descriptive epidemiology in NPC in Peninsular Malaysia ( West Malaysia) but not East Malaysian State of Sarawak ₂ was noted but it had no records of NPC incidence in Bidayuh, as the ethnic group of Bidayuh reside mainly in Sarawak. This incidence of NPC in Sarawak was however mentioned briefly in overview of cancer in Malaysia by Lim ₃ and was also noted to be high by Devi ₄ in consistent with this study.

Patterns of ENT diseases had been studied and reported in other countries, in tertiary hospital unit in Greece ₅ , in the community in Scotland ₆ , in eye & ear hospital in Austalia ₇ , in hospital emergency department in Spain ₈ and France ₉ . And ENT diseases had all been reported in different patterns from the ones found in this study. It is therefore conceivable that a local study with the findings found and discussed above would prove to be relevant and beneficial to the development of medical ENT curriculum in the local university and subsequent medical practice.

Figure 1

Table 1: The types of clinical conditions in term of their diagnoses and percentage incidences

Figure 2

Table 2: The percentage incidences, in sex, age group and race or ethnic, of the 5 most common disease groups

Summary

This study on ENT OPD patients in the local hospital has shown patterns of ENT diseases common locally and some diseases not of same prevalence as other countries. Many locally common ENT disease have been identified. The findings help defining the content and extent of medical curriculum in otorhinolaryngology, thereby enriching the local medical graduates in their pursuit of relevant knowledge and skill in managing the relatively common and prevailing ENT diseases in Malaysia.

Acknowledgement