Assessment of social, physical, and mental health of elderly people during the war in Ukraine

Abstract

Background. Assessment of elderly’s health status, medical, social service and care needs becomes important under global aging of the population. The purpose of the study was to assess the social, psycho-emotional and physical states of elderly patients based on geriatric screening tool during the war in Ukraine. Material and methods. 400 patients aged 60–89 were interviewed using original "Geriatric Assessment" questionnaire for the period 2022–2023. The questionnaire included 40 questions to assess social status, cognitive, psycho-emotional and physical states, morbidity, and chronic problems. Results. Unfavorable social signs were revealed — living alone (35 %), poor financial support (35 %), limitations of social relations (20 %), and lack of cultural life (70 %) along with low monotonous physical activity (97 %). The high frequency of depressed mood (97 %), anxiety (74 %) and dyssomnia (87 %) evidenced the low resistance to war stress in elderly. A mo­derate decrease in memory was registered in 60 %, pronounced — in 13 % patients. Among the neurological symptoms, dizziness (74 %) and balance disorders (50 %) dominated. The majority of respondents indicated physical decline: general weakness — 88 %, fatigue — 97 %, legs weakness — 76 %, hands weakness — 71 %. Unintentional weight loss, an indirect marker of sarcopenia, was identified in 32 %, height reduction as a marker of bone loss in 48 %, repeated falls and fractures in 12 and 8 %, respectively. History of stroke, myocardial infarction, neoplasma and COVID-19 was associated with higher frequency of balance di­sorders, inability to climb stairs, general weakness, hands and legs weakness, and nutrition disorders. Аs the age increased, the number of symptoms per patient enlarged and was greater in women compared to men. Conclusions. A high frequency of physical, cognitive, psychoemotional and social state disorders was registered in elderly patients during the war, which requires the attention of society for their possible correction.