Comorbidities, polypharmacy, functionality and nutritional status in Turkish community-dwelling female elderly

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Geriatric epidemiological data from developing countries are scarce.
• Most elderly populations reside in developing nations.
• This study focuses on Turkish community-dwelling female elderly patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate comorbidities, polypharmacy, functional status, and nutritional status in Turkish elderly women.
• To provide data on geriatric health in a developing country context.
• To identify health disparities and needs in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of female geriatrics outpatient clinic patients.
• Comprehensive geriatric assessment including chronic diseases, medications, functionality (ADL, IADL), cognition, and nutrition (MNA-SF).
• Data collected via patient self-reports and medication reviews.

Main Results:

• 515 female patients (mean age 73.4) included.
• High prevalence of chronic diseases (mean 2.8), hypertension (75.3%), depression (45.5%), and dementia (39.4%).
• Polypharmacy (≥4-5 drugs) affected 63.2-47.6%; functional dependency (ADL/IADL) was 23.4%/64.0%; poor nutrition was 39.1%.

Conclusions:

• Polypharmacy and functional dependency are prevalent in Turkish elderly women.
• Nutritional status is poorer than in other Turkish urban areas and males, but better than in Iranian counterparts.
• Findings emphasize geographical variations and the global need for comprehensive geriatric assessments.