A study of morbidity profile in south Indian geriatric population in a rural community at Thiruverkadu Thiruvallur district

Abstract

Background: India is an aging nation. Though increase in aging population represents the success of\xa0socioeconomic development and good public health practice, it has also lead to economic and social crisis\xa0due to increased demand for health and welfare services.\nAims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of morbidity pattern and to assess the association\xa0between socio-demographic factors and the morbidities among geriatric population.\nMaterials and Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted for a period of 6 months. 500\xa0willing geriatric subjects were subjected to history, brief clinical examination and questionnaire. Details\xa0collected were tabulated and analysed using appropriate statistical tools.\nResults: In our study, 309 people (61.8%) were between 60-69 years of age, 153 (30.6%)were between\xa070-79 years, 38 people(7.6%)were above 80 years of age. Among 500 people, 273(54.6%) were males\xa0and 227(45.4%) were females. In our study group, 81.2% had Dental problems, 57% had hypertension, 54.2% were diabetic, 53.8% had cataract , 45.6% had hearing impairment, 39.4%had CAD, 39% had\xa0osteoarthritis, 35.2% were depressed, 30.8%were anaemic , 27.8% had dementia, 24% had COPD, 11.2%\xa0had thyroid disorder, 8% had cancer, 7.8% had CVA, 7.2% had Parkinson disease, 5.6% had epilepsy, 5.2%\nhad CKD, 2.2% suffered from CLD, 1.4%had bronchial asthma, 1.2% had TB.\xa0\nConclusion: This knowledge on prevalence of different co morbidities in the community and their\xa0association with various socio demographic factors is required to improve the delivery of health care to\xa0the elderly and make aging more graceful.\n\nKeywords:\xa0Aging,\xa0Comorbidities,\xa0Geriatric population,\xa0Socio demographic factors.