PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PULMONARY NODULE IN ST PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Summary Background: Pulmonary nodules are common incidental findings, but information about their incidence in the era of computed tomography (CT) is lacking. Lung nodules are the most common and typical indicators of an early-stage lung cancer. Worldwide, lung cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary nodules are common, with at least 1.5 million nodules discovered annually. Despite this problem the prevalence and associated factors towards pulmonary nodule is not conducted in Ethiopia Yet. This study used as baseline information for researchers for further investigations. Objective: To assess the magnitude of pulmonary nodules and its associated factors among patients in St. Paul’s hospital chest clinic who undergo chest CT scan, central Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study is conducted from May, 2023 to December, 2023 at St. Paul’s hospital. Simple random sampling technique is used to select 289 charts. The data is collected by four trained health professionals. A retrospective chart review method is used for data collection. The collected data is entered to Epi- data and SPSS 29 is used for analysis. Descriptive statistics employed. Logistic regression (both bivariable and multivariable) is fitted to identify the significant variables. Model fitness is checked using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. An adjusted odds ratio with the 95% of corresponding confidence interval and P-value of 0.05 used to declare the significant variables. Results:Among total participants, 177(63.21%) of participants have previous history of lung disease.As far as previous history of cancer is concerned 34(12.06%) of patients have history cancer.Among total participants 43(15.25%) are smokers,from which 5(1.77%) are active smoker and 29(10.28%) stop smoking in the last 15 years.Number of pack year of cigarettes smoked(mean±SD) is 11.49±6.42.In multi-variable analysis chronic lung disease is 2.233 times more likely to cause pulmonary nodule, AOR: 2.233 (95%CI: 1.301, 3.833) and smoking of more than 100 cigarette in life time is 2.791 times more likely to cause pulmonary nodule, AOR: 2.233(95%CI: 1.406, 5.540). Conclusion:The prevalence of pulmonary nodule is high(29.43%) and cigarette smoking and history of chronic lung disease are significantly associated with pulmonary nodule.