| dc.description.abstract | Objective: To determine the patient drop out to postoperative follow up for heart patients at
the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Design setting and participants: The study analysed the postoperative attendance of heart
patients to the surgical outpatient clinic at the KNH. Data on clinic attendance was collected
over a one-year period from patient files and from clinic attendance.
Results: A total offour hundred and seventy five open heart operations have been performed
at the Kenyatta National Hospital over the last twenty-five years. The patients' mean age is
18.0 years. Clinic follow up rate over this period is 85% at one year, 62% at five years, 32%
at ten years and 13% at fifteen years. A number of patients who had since fallen out to clinic
follow up were traced during the study period, when included into the analysis the revised
figures are 85%, 70%, 40% and 24% respectively. The difference is statistically significant
(p = 0.019). There was no significant statistical difference in the follow up between males and
females (p = 0.278), however between patients operated for congenital heart diseases
compared to valve patients, the difference was significant (p = 0.(07), valve patients having
a better follow up. The five-year follow up for isolated mitral, aortic and double valve
replacements were 94%, 74% and 78% respectively.
Conclusion: Despite deceptively good follow up figures, our figures are in fact poor when age
is considered. Financial combined with logistical problems are the most likely causes of poor
follow up. | en |
