In Tamil Nadu, chronic joint pain most common complaint among old people; in Kerala, hypertension
According to a study conducted on the elderly populations of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the most common self-reported ailment in Tamil Nadu was chronic joint pain while in Kerala hypertension had the highest prevalence.
The study showed that over 57 per cent of elderly people in Kerala suffered from hypertension and 32 from diabetes while the percentage for these non-communicable diseases is 20 per cent and 14 per cent respectively in Tamil Nadu.
“Elderly are an important segment of our population. They have played a key role in shaping the future of the young India. The share of elderly population is expected to be at 12.4 per cent by 2026 [as per the Central Statistical Organisation's Situation analysis of the Elderly in India, 2011]. Therefore, it is essential for the health system in India to make special provisions for the healthcare for the elderly and, in particular, offer treatment and diagnostic services for the management of non-communicable diseases. Also, it is essential to immediately initiate screening of people over 50 against key non-communicable diseases and simultaneously start health education for the ageing population,” said K.P. Rajendran, team leader of the research study.
The study was done by to validate the improvement brought about by projects for elderly people being run by HelpAge India and Cordaid (Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid). It was done by capacity building organisation Four X 4 Consulting, with support from the Institute of Palliative Medicine, Kozhikode, Kerala and Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, covering 1,800 families in Tamil Nadu and 450 families in Kerala by random sampling.
In Tamil Nadu, the most common self-reported chronic morbidities among the elderly were chronic joint pain (61.3 per cent), eye and ear problems (38.4 per cent), hypertension (20.7 per cent), diabetes (13.9 per cent), heart diseases (4.4 per cent), chronic respiratory illness (2.9 per cent), stroke (1.2 per cent) and chronic mental illness (0.6 per cent).
However, in Kerala, 71.6 per cent of the elderly had at least one of the chronic morbidities at the time of survey with hypertension topping the list (57.3 per cent), chronic joint pains ( 37.5 per cent), diabetes and ear/eye (32 per cent each), heart disease (17.1 per cent and asthma (11.4 per cent).
Also, in Tamil Nadu, most of the chronically ill elderly (46.5 per cent) accessed government healthcare services, followed by private hospitals (31.4 per cent). Five per cent accessed health care by village-based health clinics of HelpAge programme while 15.2 per cent took no treatment and the utilisation of Indian Systems of Medicine was less than 1.5 per cent on an average.
In Kerala, surprisingly most of the elderly received treatment from private hospitals (55.8 per cent), followed by government hospitals (34.6 per cent). Five per cent had adopted Indian Systems of Medicines and 2.4 per cent did not take any treatment.
Quality of life
The study measured quality of life with regard to four domains — physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment. In the domains of physical, psychological and social, the project areas of HelpAge reported significant improvements in the quality of life of the elderly while the environmental changes — financial resources, physical safety, health and social care, home environment leisure activities — remained unchanged in both controlled and project areas.
Keywords: elderly population, health issues, hypertension, chronic joint pain
Comments:
Interestingly, a recent survey reveals that most of the addicted pain killer patients begun taking the medicines under medical supervision only. Pain killer addiction is mostly occurs with the chronic pain patients. They feel need of the pain killers extremely whenever the pain is little more than tolerance. The quick action pain relievers strike on the pain in the right manner. These are no doubt fast relief options by relaxing a patient considerably. While doctors believe any sort of addiction is more psychological, pain killer addiction is mostly for chronic pain management.
For both joint pain and hypertension the best remedy is to avoid taking any oily substance.I have tried it and it is doing wonderful job
The youngers of our own society must step in and do the needful.If it is not my parents/ relatives, it is of someone from our society.
The photo shows four gentlemen with some walking difficulties. Yet most public buildings and public places - even hospitals & private clinics, practically all shops including chemists and path labs have high steps without banisters and no ramps; there are very few parking spaces reserved for the disabled if any at all; buses and trains are near impossible to get on board, etc. The lawmakers, city planners and architects appear oblivious of social demography! Geriatric medical care, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy are words hardly seen even in private hospitals. Is medical education and training geared up for this ‘rather less financially lucrative’ area? The emphasis must be on allowing elderly men and women (particularly women who live longer) to 'manage on their own for as long as they can'. Most of India is probably much worse than Kerala and TN! I pay tribute to Prof K Jacob, who frequently reminds readers of The Hindu about this and other worthy health provision / education issues.
I had attended the National Consultative held to Share the findings. The study was conducted to highlight how management of primary medical care and Palliative Care by the Community itself can bring improvements. In this case the community was the Self Help Groups of the Rural Elderly Poor. Significant among the findings was the Quality of Life of bedridden patients was improved, because of the social interactions, which one should congratulate HelpAge India for experimenting with especially when Geriatric Care is often talked about and little done and when Palliative Care is often confused with Institution Based Care or just Cancer Care.