Abstract
Introduction: In India, both the share and size of elderly population is increasing over time.Unfortunately, the rapidity of population ageing is expected to outpace social and economic development in developing countries particularly in countries like India. Objectives: To study the prevalence of morbidities in elderly aged 60 and above and to find the socio-demographic factors associated with these morbidities. Material and Methods: The present cross sectional study was carried out at the field practice area of Rural Health Centre, at a medical college in South India. The study population comprises of all geriatric population aged 60 years and above in the study area. The survey was done by house to house visit. The study subjects were subjected for personal interview using a pre-tested and semi-structured interview schedule. Statistical analysis is carried out using SPSS Version 17. Results: Most of the elderly people (54.5%) were in 60-64 yr age group. Morbidity was present in 139 (65.2 %) of elderly people. Common morbidity among elderly people were related to oral cavity & salivary glands 129 (69.6%); musculoskeletal system 114 (53.4%); eye & adenexa 85 (39.9%); endocrine, nutritional & metabolic diseases 60 (28.2%); Ear & mastoid process 45 (21.1%) and skin diseases 42 (19.7%). Increasing age and female gender was the two significant risk factors found to be associated with presence morbidity in the present study. Conclusion: Greater, targeted efforts are needed to identify at-risk elderly people living in the community and to provide them with elderly-friendly primary geriatric care services that may reduce the burden of unmet need.
Highlights
In India, both the share and size of elderly population is increasing over time
Out of 213 elderly, males were more in number 113(53.1%) than female 100 (46.9%))
Common morbidity among elderly people were related to oral cavity & salivary glands 129 (60.6%); musculoskeletal system 114 (53.4%); eye & adnexa 85 (39.9%); endocrine, nutritional & metabolic diseases 60 (28.2%); Ear & mastoid process 45 (21.1%) and skin diseases 42 (19.7%)
Summary
The rapidity of population ageing is expected to outpace social and economic development in developing countries in countries like India. Increasing age and female gender was the two significant risk factors found to be associated with presence morbidity in the present study. In India, currently 7.4% of the populations are elderly (60+) and it is expected that this will reach 12.6% in 2025 and 21.0 % by 2050.3Unfortunately, the rapidity of population ageing is expected to outpace social and economic development in developing countries in countries like India.[3] WHO says “Developing countries will become old before they become rich while industrialized countries became rich while they were growing old.[4] There are limited social security systems for elderly and most of these Social Security Systems are for the Organized Sectors. Help age India says 90% of older persons are from the unorganized sector, with no social security at the age of 60.5
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