A Comparative Study on Morbidity Status of Geriatric with Pre Geriatric Population in Rural Area, Tamil Nadu

Background: India has acquired the label of “an aging nation” with 7.7% of its population being more than 60 years old. Research on geriatric morbidity and associated factors are required to improve the delivery of health care to the elderly. The awareness should be initiated much in early years 45 to 59 years, but not many studies were available in India. Hence this study was an attempt to study the morbidity status of both groups which may serve as a baseline data and also help in planning the health services. The aim of the study was to find the morbidity pattern and depression status among geriatric and pre geriatric population in field practice area of Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu, India.

Method: An observational study conducted in a rural area of kancheepuram district, Tamilnadu, India during the year 2016. 72 Study participants in geriatric and 97 in pre geriatric were enrolled and administered with pre tested, semi structured questionnaire after obtained informed consent. Descriptive statistics were calculated by using SPSS 18V.

Results: Among 72 geriatric people, common morbidity were arthritis (75%), Hypertension (63.9%), cataract (55.6%) and Diabetes (33.3%) which was statistically significant when compare to pre-geriatric(p<0.01). 61% of geriatric had reported more than one chronic illness. In pre geriatric groups, low back pain and other infections almost similar to geriatric which was not significant (p>0.05). The prevalence of depression was almost similar in both the groups.

Conclusions: There is high morbidity rate identified in this present study, similarly depression status was even increased in pre geriatric itself, this implies that need to develop pre geriatric health care services, counseling at primary health centre level at the early years of age.