Prevalence and treatment patterns among adults with prostate disorder in a tertiary hospital, Bayelsa state, Nigeria

Background: The prevalence of prostate disorder in the elderly is usually high due to its association with age. However, changing lifestyle have made prostate disorder to reported in middle age adults in some health care facilities in some parts of the world.

Objectives: This study evaluated the prevalence of prostate disorder, and medication use patterns among middle age adults in a tertiary healthcare facility in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional retrospective study with modified proforma used to assess patients diagnosed with prostate disorder between July 2020 and July 2022. Data on socio-demographics, prevalence and medication use pattern by the patients were collected. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Pearson Chi-square was done to determine the relationship of demographics with prevalence of prostate disorder, with level of significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The prevalence rate of prostate disorder was 29.2 %, and about one-third (34.8%) were above 60 years old. Tamsulocin (80.4 %) was the most prescribed anti prostate disorder drug, followed by Finasteride (66.3 %). More than one half (60.7 %) of the medications prescribed were antibiotics, with ciprofloxacin accounting for 14.1%%. Surgical procedures were carried out for 84.8% of the patients.

Conclusion: There was high prevalence of prostate disorder with age especially with 61 years and above. High level of poly-pharmacy and overuse of antibiotics in this study center.