Morbidity, co-morbidity profile and disability status among elderly in civil hospital Karachi

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the Morbidity, Co-morbidity profile and Disability status among elderly in Civil Hospital Karachi. A Descriptive cross sectional study. The study was conducted at Civil Hospital Karachi from 15 June 2009 to 15 August 2009. 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, co morbidity and disability status of elderly patients. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis. A total of 220 elderly subjects [60+] were included in the study. Most common morbidities were cerebrovascular accidents [13.6%], chronic liver diseases [7.7%] and hernias [7.7%]. When classified according 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 diabetes mellitus [27.2%] and ischemic heart diseases [7.27%]. 63.6% of elderly had minimal disability, 12.3% had moderate disability, 2.7% were severely disabled and 21.4% had no disability. Most of elderly patient admitted to CHK for C.V.A [13.6] Most common disorder were related to Digestive System 28.6%, among Co-Morbidities [Chronic] Hypertension was frequent 28.63%. A large number [78.6%] of elderly patient had some sort of disabilities