1Assistant Professor, Medical Sociology, Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, U.P.
2Assistant Professor, Community Medicine, Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, U.P.
3Professor, Community Medicine, Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, U.P.
4Professor & Head, Community Medicine, Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, U.P.
5Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, U.P.
*Corresponding author: Kapil Goel, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Subharti Medical College, Delhi-Haridwar Byepass Road, Meerut, UP, India. Tel: (+91) 9410276076, (+91) 0121 2439056 Ext. 2146; Fax: (+91) 0121 2439127; E-mail: drkapil123@gmail.com
Online published on 23 January, 2014.
Ageing is a biological process and not a disease or curse, and during the biological process significant changes occur in human body.
To study the socio-lifestyle characteristics and morbidity profile of elderly (>60 years) in the community.
A cross-sectional house to house survey was conducted by interviewing 196 elderly belonging to two urban slums of Meerut by using a pre tested and pre designed interview schedule.
All elderly with age > 60 years were included in this study. Among all, 50% were males. 77.55% of the elderly belonged to the age group 60–65 years. All (100%) were Muslims. 58.17% of the elderly were married. 77.04% were illiterate, 60.2% belonged to lower socioeconomic status and 58.17% lived in joint families. Most (64.80%) of the respondents were vegetarians. Among the males, the major addiction was smoking (63.27%) and among females, the major addiction was tobacco chewing (36.73%). Major morbidities included respiratory illness (32.65%) followed by arthralgia (28.57%), hypertension (27.55%) and gastro-intestinal tract problems (26.53%), mental illnesses (24.49%), skin problems (9.18%), cataract (7.14%), diabetes (6.12%), and deafness (3.06%) respectively. Nearly 2/3rd (64%) of respondents preferred only allopathic treatment for their illness.
Elderly were mainly suffering from respiratory illnesses followed by arthralgia, hypertension, GI diseases and mental disorders. There is a need to change the life style for healthy ageing by increasing awareness and utilization of geriatric welfare schemes.
Elderly, Lifestyle, Morbidity, Diseases
