Scientific Reports (Jul 2022)

Multimorbidity and multi-disability among the elderly in residential care in India: the Hyderabad Ocular Morbidity in Elderly Study (HOMES)

  • Srinivas Marmamula,
  • Thirupathi Reddy Kumbham,
  • Rahul Shidhaye,
  • Satya Brahmanandam Modepalli,
  • Navya Rekha Barrenkala,
  • Ratnakar Yellapragada,
  • Jill Keeffe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15943-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract We report prevalence and risk factors for multimorbidity and multi-disability among elderly people in residential care in the Hyderabad region in South India. In total, 1182 elderly (aged ≥ 60) participants were examined in 41 homes for the aged centres. Detailed interviews were conducted by trained personnel to collect personal and demographic information. A questionnaire was used to assess the history of non-communicable diseases and Washington Disability Questionnaire (WDQ) was administered to assess disabilities. The mean age of the participants was 75.0 years (SD 8.8 years; range: 60–108 years), 35.4% were men, 20.3% had no formal education, 60.7% had school education and 19% had higher education. The prevalence of multimorbidity was 37.6% (95% CI: 34.8–40.4). Prevalence of multi-disability was 23.6% (95% CI: 21.2–26.3; n = 270). In total, 857 (72.5%) participants reported using at least one medication for NCDs. Over a third of the elderly in residential care had multimorbidity, and a quarter of them had multi-disability. A holistic health care system that comprises health and wellness coupled with rehabilitation to address disabilities is needed to achieve healthy aging in elderly in homes for the aged in India.