Prevalence of hearing impairment and its correlates among a group of hospitalized chronically ill elderly patients in Alexandria, Egypt

Background: Hearing impairment [HI] is one of the most common health problems among the elderly. The major risk factors for HI include aging, exposure to noise, chronic morbidities, and ototoxic drugs. Although the relation between HI and chronic morbidities among the elderly is well documented, it often receives minimal attention. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HI and its correlates among a group of hospitalized chronically ill elderly patients in Alexandria, Egypt

Participants and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 370 chronically ill elderly patients in the internal medicine wards of Alexandria Main University Hospital. A structured pre-coded interview schedule was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and medical history. A questionnaire for screening for HI in the elderly was also used

Results: The majority of elderly patients [78.6%] complained of HI. HI was prevalent among all elderly patients aged 90 years and older. It was also more prevalent among women [82.2%], among single and divorced elderly patients [95.7 and 91.7%, respectively], among those who were illiterate or could only read and write [93.2%], among all skilled workers, and among housewives [82.2%]. HI was also most prevalent among elderly patients who lived alone [82.6%], hypertensive elders [87.6%], and elderly patients taking analgesics [85.4%]

Conclusion and recommendations: Hypertension and the intake of a number of medications were significantly associated with HI. It is recommended to use screening procedures for the identification of individuals with HI and to refer them for further audiologic evaluation

Health related behavior of middle aged attenging out patient clinics in Alexandria

Aging is a lifelong process where early and mid-life events and behaviors have an important influence on the health and functions of individuals as they age. Adoption of a healthy lifestyle is important at all stages of life particularly the middle age. Physical activity, proper nutrition, social engagement avoiding risky behaviors as smoking, and practicing health seeking behavior can prevent diseases and functional decline at any age. Health related behaviors are affected by the wider range of factors as the environment in which elders live, their values, beliefs, traditions, and education. Also Knowledge about the benefits of healthy lifestyle is a crucial motivation to achieve successful active aging. This study aimed to assess the health related behaviors among the middle aged and evaluate their knowledge about the impact of health related behaviors upon successful active aging. The sample included 400 cases attending four outpatient clinics in Alexandria during the scheduled visits and fulfilling the inclusion criteria: age 50 to 60 years, and acceptance to participate in the study. Data was collected using a structured interview sheet to obtain information about the general characteristics of the elderly, assessment of their functional abilities, and knowledge and practice of health related behaviors. The results revealed that The total score of practicing and knowledge of health related behavior was bad among the majority of cases