K. Joshi|Rajesh Kumar|Ajit Avasthi
Morbidity profile and its relationship with disability and psychological distress among elderly people in Northern India
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
morbidity among elderly people important influence physical functioning psychological wellbeing evaluation morbidity profile determinants implications elderly people available objective study assess morbidity comorbidity patterns treatment seeking determine relationship morbidity disability psychological distress sociodemographic variables among elderly population northern indiaa crosssectional survey 200 subjects 60 years old 100 urban population chandigarh city rural population haryana state india carried using cluster sampling technique study period july 1999april 2000 various sociodemographic characteristics recorded baseline clinical diagnosis made physician based reported illness clinical examination crosschecking medical records medications held subjects psychological distress disability assessed using pgihealth questionnairen1 rapid disability rating scale2 respectively anova kruskalwallis h test correlation coefficient multivariate analysis used assess relationship association morbidity variablesof total sample 889 reported illness based perception 435 seeking treatment actually taking medicines 425 diagnosed 46 morbidities mean number morbidities among elderly people 61 sd 29 total 875 minimal severe disabilities 66 elderly people distressed physically psychologically prevalent morbidity anaemia followed dental problems hypertension chronic obstructive airway disease coad cataract osteoarthritis morbidities like asthma coad hypertension osteoarthritis gastrointestinal disorders anaemia eye neurological problems significantly associated disability distress higher number morbidities associated greater disability distress univariate analysis sociodemographic variables like age locality caste education occupation income important determinants morbidity multivariate analysis undertaken find independent relationship sociodemographic variables morbidity morbidity significantly associated age b value 006 95 ci 001 012 sex b value 103 95 ci 002 205 occupation b value 020 95 ci 007 033a high mean number morbidities 61 sd 29 observed elderly subjects higher morbidity increasing disability distress age sex occupation important determinants morbidity assessment morbidity profile determinants help application interventions medical social improve health status thus quality life elderly northern india