Functional disability and its determinants among geriatric population of Davangere city: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Disability has been drastically increasing globally among elderly population and contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. This study was planned to assess the prevalence of functional disability and to assess its determinants among elderly population of Davangere city in Karnataka. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out between July 2019 and June 2020 in Davangere city, involving 600 elderly aged ≥60 years. Participants were selected using 30 cluster sampling technique. Approval from the institutional ethics committee review board was obtained. The study was done by interview method. Consent was taken before conducting the interview. Questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic details, personal history, h/o chronic illness, and components of functional disability (activities of daily living [ADL], mobility, vision, and hearing). ADL was assessed by Barthel's scale of 10 items, mobility was assessed using “get up and go test,” vision was assessed by Snellen's vision chart, hearing was assessed by whisper test followed by Rinne's and weber's test. RESULTS: The mean age of the elderly was 71.31 years ± 6.8 years, ranges from 60 years to 95 years. The prevalence of functional disability was found to be 38.2%. It was increased with the advancing age (≥80 years), socioeconomic status, disturbed sleep, and chronic illnesses found to be having significant association. CONCLUSION: Nearly half of the elderly were suffering from functional disability, this can be improved by lifestyle modification, early diagnosis, and treatment of chronic illnesses.

Keywords

• activities of daily living
• elderly
• functional disability
• hearing
• vision