Morbidity, Co-Morbidity Profile and Disability Status Among Elderly in Civil Hospital Karachi

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the Morbidity, Co-morbidity profile and Disability status among elderly in CivilHospital Karachi.

Study Design:

A Descriptive cross sectional study.

Subjects and Methods:

The study was conducted at Civil Hospital Karachi from 15 June 2009 to 15 August2009. Patients aged 60 years and above admitted to selected wards i.e. Medicine, Cardiac medicine, Surgery,Gynecology, E.N.T and Ophthalmology were included except those patients who had psychiatric illnesses,history of trauma and neurological deficits. A questionnaire was designed for assessment of morbidity, comorbidity and disability status o f elderly patients. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis

Results:

A total of 220 elderly subjects (60+) were included in the study. Most common morbidities werecerebrovascular accidents (13.6%), chronic liver diseases (7.7%) and hernias (7.7%). When classifiedaccording to organ systems most common disorders were of digestive system (28.6%), nervous system (15%)and malignancies (12.2%). Hypertension was the most frequent co-morbidity (28.63%), followed by diabetesmellitus (27.2%) and ischemic heart diseases (7.27%). 63.6% of elderly had minimal disability, 12.3% hadmoderate disability, 2.7% were severely disabled and 21.4% had no disability.

Conclusion:

Most of elderly patient admitted to CHK for C.V.A (13.6) Most common disorder were relatedto Digestive System 28.6%, among Co-Morbidities (Chronic) Hypertension was frequent 28.63%. A largenumber (78.6%) of elderly patient had some sort of disabilities.