背景:多发病是一个普遍且日益严重的问题。多发病率的患病率因不同人群和环境而异,但在老年人中尤其常见。它构成了大量的身体,心理,和个人的社会经济负担,护理人员和医疗保健系统。在这种情况下,本研究旨在提供对多发病率的患病率和程度的见解;关于一群贫民窟居住的老年妇女的多发病水平与病态之间的关系。
方法:这项基于社区的横断面研究是在加尔各答市区的贫民窟地区进行的,西孟加拉邦,印度。它包括总共500名老年妇女,60岁或以上。关于人口统计学和发病率概况的预先测试时间表已经通过挨家挨户调查获得信息。为了确定多发病水平与病态之间的关系,进行了对应分析。
结果:该研究揭示了三种最常见的病态-背部和/或关节痛,龋齿/龋齿和高血压。在该组老年妇女中,多发病率的总体患病率为95.8%。年龄最大的年龄组(80岁及以上)的比例过高。大多数人同时患有五种疾病,占受访者总数的15.2%。这项研究中所有年龄最大的女性报告同时患有两种以上的疾病。根据多发病率和病态之间的相互关系,形成了三个不同的群体。组1和组2仅占总样品的27.8%和18%。然而,第3组发病率最高(≥6),占总样本的52.8%,与一般的痛苦密切相关,心脏问题,哮喘/COPD,胃肠,肌肉骨骼问题,神经系统疾病,甲状腺功能减退和口腔健康问题。
结论:研究结果证实了贫民窟老年人的多发病率是一个高患病率和复杂性的问题。这项研究提出了一种易于复制的方法来理解疾病的复杂相互作用,这可以帮助进一步确定老年人的医疗保健需求,为他们提供健康和更有生产力的预期寿命。
BACKGROUND: Multi-morbidity is a pervasive and growing issue worldwide. The prevalence of multi-morbidity varies across different populations and settings, but it is particularly common among older adults. It poses substantial physical, psychological, and socio-economic burdens on individuals, caregivers and healthcare systems. In this context, the present study aims to provide an insight on the prevalence and degree of multi-morbidity; and also, on the relationship between level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions among a group of slum-dwelling older women.
METHODS: This community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the slum areas of urban Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It includes total 500 older women, aged 60 years or above. Pre-tested schedules on so-demographic and morbidity profile have canvassed to obtain the information by door-to-door survey. To determine the relationship between the level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions, correspondence analysis has performed.
RESULTS: The study revealed three most prevalent morbid conditions- back and/or joint pain, dental caries/cavity and hypertension. The overall prevalence of multi-morbidity was 95.8% in this group of older women. It was highly over-represented by the oldest-old age group (80 years and above). Majority were found to suffer from five simultaneous morbid conditions that accounted for 15.2% of the total respondents. All of the oldest-old women of this study reported to suffer from more than two medical conditions simultaneously. Three distinct groups were formed based on the inter-relationship between level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions. The group 1 and 2 represents only 27.8% and 18% of the total sample. Whereas, group 3 comprises the highest level of morbidities (≥ 6) and 52.8% of total sample, and strongly related with general debilities, cardiac problems, asthma/COPD, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal problems, neurological disorders, hypothyroidism and oral health issues.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirmed the assertion that multi-morbidity in slum living older adults is a problem with high prevalence and complexity. This study proposes an easily replicable approach of understanding complex interaction of morbidities that can help further in identifying the healthcare needs of older adults to provide them with healthy and more productive life expectancy.