Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Bābul (Jun 2008)
PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC DISEASES IN ELDERLY POPULATION IN AMIRKOLA (2006-2007)
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: With increasing hope for life and improving health cares, elderly population is increasing. Survey into problems of elderly people is one of the health care priorities in Iran in order to manage and develop a care plan for this population. The aim of this study was to determine the chronic diseases of elderly people in Amirkola, Babol, Iran.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 1017 people (of 2000) aged over 60 years in Amirkola that were selected by cluster sampling. Data were collected using questionnaire included 32 questions about demographic characteristics and chronic diseases. Questionnaires filled out by trained questioners with interviewing old people and their family. Data were analyzed by chi square and t-test. P<0.05 was considered significant. FINDINGS: In this study, 603 (59.3%) were male and 414 (40.7%) were female. Mean age of the elderly population was 70.7±6.9 years. Frequency of chronic diseases was cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (29.6%), digestive disorders (28.5%), hypertension (HTN) (23.9%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (23.4%), musculoskeletal diseases (22%), kidney and urinary tract (16.6%), pulmonary diseases (12.8%), cerebrovascular accident (4.9%) and the frequency of other diseases was less. Frequency of CVD, HTN, DM and psychiatric diseases in female population were more than males and pulmonary and musculoskeletal diseases in male population were more than female population. From studied cases, 83% afflicted with at least one disease and 44.4% afflicted with more than two diseases synchronously. Mean of disease numbers for every person was 2.6±2.2.CONCLUSION: Considering the results of this study and high frequency percentage of chronic diseases especially HTN, DM in old people, consideration should be given to screening for these diseases.
