European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: -Aging is a biological process often accompanied by debility, disease and death. In India, anyone who is above 60 years is considered as geriatric patients whereas in western world attainment of age above 65 years is considered as aged people. Elderly patients are frail with reduced physiological capacity and often suffer from multiple co-morbidities constituting this group the most vulnerable and high-risk groups in terms of health and their health seeking behaviour. Even acute illness in elderly manifests in a non-specific way.  
Aims and objective: - The objective of study aims to find out morbidity pattern among elderly population aged 60 years and above.
Methods and material: - A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 200 elderly patients admitted in general medicine department or attending general medicine OPD. The study duration was of one year. Patients above 60 years of age were selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria and were subjected for detailed history, clinical examination and investigations.  
Result - We included 200 cases for this study. Age ranges from 60 to 91 with male to female ratio 1.56. Maximum cases were in the age group of 70-79 followed by 60-69, 80-89 and >90. Most common symptom was weakness (48.5%) followed by dyspnoea (36.5%), body ache/joint pain (27.5%), fever
(24%), loss of appetite (20%) etc. Most common diagnosis was hypertension (50.5%) followed by diabetes mellitus (38.5%), electrolyte imbalance (27%), anaemia (25.5%), COPD (23%), renal failure (15.5%), CAD (13%), LRTI (12%), osteoarthritis (11.5%),BPH (10%), CHF (8.5%), etc. Maximum patients were having 3 morbidity (30.5%) followed by 2(26%), 4 or more than 4(24%) and 1(19.5%). 
Conclusion: - Geriatric population is rapidly increasing with multmorbidity in majority. Non-communicable disease is highly prevalent but communicable disease remains an important cause of admission.