A Survey of the Symptoms and Diseases in the Elderly / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Health conditions were surveyed in elderly Persons (over sixty-five years old) liveing in two towns in Kyoto prefecture. The questionnaires were handed out and collected later. Seven hundred and sixty five elderly persons living in Hiyosi-cho, an area of agriculture and forestry, and six hundred and eight elderly persons living in Tango-cho, an area of agriculture and fishery, turned in the questionnaires.<br>On investigation it was found that elderly people living in the two towns had many symptoms or diseases. The incidence of these symptoms and diseases was over two times as high as the mean value discovered in the general elderly population nation wide. Symptoms and diseases noted included low back pain, shoulder stiffness, foot pain, hypertension, pollakiuria, cold feet, knee joint pain, eye diseases, shoulder pain and arm pain in descending order of frequency. Low back pain was noted in about 46 per cent.