Health aspects of an urban elderly population

The health status of an urban elderly Sinhala population ordinarily resident in their homes was investigated by interview and physical examination. Just over one fifth of the subjects had been hospitalised at least once for an episode of illness during the previous 12 months. 47.7% of the subjects complained of impaired vision, and 12.8% had cataract; 45.0% had less than the minimum number of teeth required for proper mastication; 24.8% of the subjects had impaired hearing. Medical histories showed that 10.1% of the subjects suffered from haemorrhoids; 2.0% were hemiplegic. A random single blood pressure recording showed 34.2% of the subjects to have a diastolic blood pressure of 95 mm Hg or more. 9.4% of the subjects had glucosuria. With the high morbidity seen among this elderly population a case is made for the establishment of geriatric clinics in government hospitals, and that care of the elderly be included in the Primary Health Care programme of Sri Lanka.