The relationship between major chronic diseases and functional limitations among older adults in Kerala

The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of different chronic morbidities and functional limitations and assess the association between chronic morbidity and functional limitations among older adults in Kerala. The data used for this study was sourced from the “Longitudinal Ageing Study in India” (LASI), the largest longitudinal ageing study globally and a pioneering initiative in India, providing valuable data. The information was collectedfrom all the States and Union Territories across India during 2017-2018, with a total of 72,265 participants aged 45 and above. For this particular study, only datafrom Kerala state was used for bivariate and multivariate analysis. The findings revealed that 35 per cent of the elderly participants had diabetes, 12 per cent had heart diseases, over half of them had hypertension, and approximately 28 per cent suffered from Arthritis disease. Moreover, around 25 per cent of the respondents had at least one functional disability, and 41.5 per cent experienced some physical disability. The multivariate analysis confirmed the bivariate results, indicating that older individuals with chronic illnesses faced a significantly higher risk of functional disabilities. Regular assessments of the health status of the elderly population and a focus on providing necessary preventive and curative measures are crucial policy objectives to ensure the well-being of older individuals.