Functional Disability and Associated Chronic Conditions among Geriatric Populations in a Rural Community of India

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Global increase in geriatric population and chronic diseases, particularly in developing nations like India.
• Urbanization and social changes contribute to rising disability rates among the elderly in India.
• Chronic diseases are identified as primary drivers of disability in the geriatric demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To ascertain the prevalence of chronic diseases and disability in a rural Indian geriatric community.
• To investigate the correlation between chronic conditions and disability in the elderly population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, observational, community-based study design was employed.
• Data collection involved house-to-house visits in rural West Bengal, India.
• Utilized clinical examinations, observations, and interviews with a pre-validated questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Out of 495 participants, 16.16% (80 individuals) exhibited functional disability based on the ADL scale.
• Over half of the disabled individuals (56.2%) reported having three or more chronic conditions.
• A high prevalence of chronic conditions was observed, with 92.5% of the study population having at least one chronic condition.

Conclusions:

• Significant associations were found between disability and risk factors including age, sex, anemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD), scabies, prostate hypertrophy, ischemic heart disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and acid peptic disorder.
• These findings highlight key chronic conditions and risk factors contributing to geriatric disability in the studied region.
• Implementing measures to mitigate these chronic conditions and impairments is recommended for effective disability prevention strategies.