Impact of Age on the Prevalence of Chronic Diseases in Geriatric Population

摘要

Old age is unpreventable physiological state and epidemiologically independent risk factor for chronic non-communicablediseases. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of chronic diseases and disability among geriatric studysubjects. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess various dimensions that affect the lives of the elderly whichincludes the socio-demographic variables, employment status, lifestyle habits, health and psychological conditions. ChiSquare test with statistically significance of p value <0.05 was used for analysis. All patients older than 60 years (N=199)were divided into men (57.29%) and women (42.72%). Men had a higher literacy (p<0.001), employment (47.36%;p<0.001), upper socioeconomic status (48.25%; p<0.05) and physical activity (56.15%; p<0.001) than women. The mostcommon chronic diseases in decreasing frequency are hypertension (60.84%; p<0.01), musculoskeletal disorders(37.69%), anaemia (35.18%; p< 0.001), hyperlipidemia (34.18%), insomnia (32.17%), obesity (30.59%), hyperglycaemia(25.63%; p<0.05), hyperuricemia (20.61%; p<0.001), depression (19.60%; p<0.01), peptic ulcer disease (13.57%;p<0.001), chronic lung disease (12.57%), chronic kidney disease (07.54%), autoimmune disease (07.04%; p<0.05),cancers (05.53%) and chronic liver disease (03.52%). However, geriatric women were more frequently diagnosed withhypertension (71.77%), musculoskeletal disorders (41.18%), anaemia (47.06%), insomnia (34.12%), obesity (15.30%),hyperglycaemia (34.12%), hyperuricemia (36.48%), depression (28.24%), peptic ulcer disease (25.89%), chronic lungdisease (17.65%) and autoimmune disease (11.77%) than men. Rising prevalence of chronic conditions especially amonggeriatric women are considered as the major causes of disability in the elderly population. Screening programs should beinstituted at the community level for the early diagnosis, treatment, and further regular monitoring of the treatmentcompliance to control diseases related morbidity and mortality.