ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the most common health-related disorders and life satisfaction among the geriatric population of Hyderabad Sindh.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional community-based study was conducted at department of Community Medicine of LUMHS Jamshoro on geriatric population of district Hyderabad. All the people of 60 years or over and either gender, were included in the study. The volunteer study contributors were pre-informed and approached at their convenient place and time. All study subjects were interviewed regarding their health disorders and life satisfaction. Following a written and informed consent, a self-structured questionnaire was filled by the study volunteers, in the presence of chief investigator under her guidance. All information was recorded via a structured study questioner.

Results: Total 422 individuals were studied and their average age was 70.12+6.33 years. Out of 69.4% were males and 30.6% were females. Self-dependent individuals were 14.9%, pension dependents were 34.4%, and 50.7% had other sources of income. As per medical disorders, hypertension and diabetes were the most common health issues followed by vision problems, cardiac issues, dental caries, loss of teeth, osteoporosis, chronic pain, urinary incontinence, haemorrhoids, loss of appetite, stroke, loss of memory and sleeplessness. Health status was excellent in 5.7% of the patients, good health in 212(50.2%), fair health in 123(29.1%) and poor health status was found in 63(14.9%) of the patients.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the geriatric population is at high risk of hypertension, GI-problem, liver disease, weight loss, Dental caries, vision problem, DM, obesity, stroke, lung disease, and Benign Prostrate hypertension. Most patients were unsatisfied with their life and this was mostly due to poor socio-economic.