Estimation of Lifestyle Diseases in Elderly from a Rural Community of Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh

摘要

Introduction: Current statistics for the elderly in India give a prelude to a new set of medical, social, and economic problems that could arise if a timely initiative in this direction is not taken by program managers and policy makers. Aim & Objectives: To identify the burden of lifestyle related disease and its pattern among the elderly in a rural population and to look at socio economic and gender related issues influencing their morbidity. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted during January to June 2012 in two villages under the Department of Community Medicine, NRI Medical College in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 1960 families with a population of 9067 were enumerated. All people 60 years and above were administered a pretested proforma looking into perceived health status and known disease status. Data was entered in WHO Epi info package and analysed for percentages. Chi square test was applied where appropriate. Results: There were 509 (11.2 percent) elderly female patients and 517 (11.4 percent) male patients (>60 years of age). 52.3 percent of the women and 44.5 percent of the men had some chronic illness. Hypertension was 19 percent and 28 percent in males and females respectively. There was an overall 14 percent of diabetes and 9 percent arthritis. In women, illiteracy, being just a housewife and widowhood were associated with increased lifestyle disease burden.Conclusion: A significant number of elderly are suffering with chronic illnesses even in rural areas. There is a need to highlight the medical and socio-economic problems that are being faced by the elderly people especially the women in India. Rural health programmes need to also put the health problems of the elderly on par with other health related issues.