Causes of III-health among elderly patients seen at a primary care clinic at King Khalid University Hospital, Saudi Arabia: an opportunity for prevention

ABSTRACT

To assess the morbidity pattern of elderly Saudi patients aged 60 years and above seen at a primary care clinic. A prospective analysis of the morbidity pattern of new Saudi patients aged 60 years and above at the primary care clinic of King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was carried out over a period of 1 year [May 1992 to April 1993]. Over the study period 812 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. There was a male preponderance [547 male 265 female - ratio 2.11 .0] and 37. 1% of the patients were over 70 years of age. Ill-defined illnesses, musculoskeletal disorders, metabolic, digestive, circulatory, genitourinary diseases and injury accounted for 81 .4% of the disease conditions. About one-quarter of the patients, mainly those with neoplasms, nervous system disorders, skin diseases and genitourinary problems were referred for specialist care. It is conceivable that the commonly observed pattern of diseases in this study may change over a period of time either due to the interventions adopted by the primary care clinic or as part of social development or as a cumulative effect of both. The primary health care physician has to be aware of such a change by periodically analysing the available morbidity data