Spectrum of Neurological Disorders in Patients Visiting Tertiary Care Hospitals in Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Neurological disorders represent a major cause of global morbidity and disability, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where epidemiological data remain limited. Pakistan faces a growing burden of epilepsy, headache syndromes, and cerebrovascular diseases, yet region-specific data from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are scarce. Objective: To determine the frequency and demographic distribution of neurological disorders among patients attending tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan, and to identify the most prevalent disease categories across age and gender groups. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2022 at Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, and Hayatabad Medical Complex. All patients presenting to neurology outpatient and inpatient departments were included following diagnostic confirmation. Data on demographics, clinical diagnosis, and family history were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics were generated, and chi-square tests were used to assess associations, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Of 451 patients, 55.0% were male and 45.0% female, with a mean age of 42.3±4.8 years. Rural residents constituted 57.2% of the cohort. Epilepsy was the most common diagnosis (21.8%), followed by migraine (18.0%), headache (12.6%), ischemic stroke (7.3%), and dementia (4.2%). Neurological disorders were significantly more common in younger adults (p<0.001), with epilepsy peaking at 11–30 years, while cerebrovascular and degenerative disorders predominated after age 50. Multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease were significantly more frequent in males (p<0.05). Conclusion: Epilepsy and headache syndromes dominate the neurological disease spectrum among younger populations, whereas cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders prevail in older adults. These findings highlight the dual challenge of managing early-onset neurological conditions and aging-related disorders in Pakistan.