Health Profile of the Aged Population in Urban Aligarh, India
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- Category: Vol. 78, September 2010
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Health Profile of the Aged Population in Urban Aligarh, India,MOHAMAD Y. KHAN and SULIMAN H. AL-FIFI
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the morbidity pattern among aged population and to determine the height, weight and blood pressure variations in elderly males and females.
Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted in urban areas of Aligarh City, India. 15% of the total estimated elderly population covering all 10 sectors of Aligarh City were studied. A total of 3951 elderly persons were interviewed and their data analyzed. Collected data comprised their age, sex, an-thropometry, blood pressure, morbidity pattern, and laboratory investigations.
Results: Mean height of males was 165.4cm and of females was 156.1 cm. Mean weight of males was 54.6kg and of females 51.7kg. Both mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressure of females were higher than of males (128.2/ 82.2mmHg and 125.5/80.6mmHg, respectively). 81.3% of aged persons had one or more illnesses. On average, there were 2.6 illnesses per sick aged man and 2.8 illnesses per sick aged woman. Most of the elderly (87%) had chronic illnesses. A large majority (74.8%) had diseases of nervous system and of special senses organs, including visual defects and hearing impairment. 5.3% of the tested urine samples were found to be abnormal.
Conclusions and Recommendations: The mean level of blood pressure and the rates of rise with age vary markedly between populations. The systolic blood pressure shows a rise with age in both sexes, and the diastolic blood pressure is higher in females compared to males in all age groups. Identification of variations in the population groups and the environmental etiological factors, which may be modifiable, needs further study and evaluation. Currently the need is to create a database of the problems faced by the elderly in India and then to plan the preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative strategies should follow. Since health problems of elderly are multifaceted, hence the need for a comprehensive approach.