Disease Patterns among Hospitalized Elderly at TUTH

Abstract

Introduction: A descriptive study was carried out to assess the disease patterns among the elderly patients admitted at TUTH from 2061/4/1 to 2062/3/31. Secondary data were collected from the admission record; the total admissions were 16,947. Out of the total admission 19.2% patients belonged to elderly from 60 years and above, and 59% were male. Among them, majorities were young elderly (< 75 years) while rests of others were late elderly (> 85 years). Results: The findings revealed that majority of them were suffering from diseases related to respiratory, cardiac and digestive system, followed by cerebro vascular accident and neoplasmic diseases. Further analysis revealed that among the hospitalized elderly, 53% were suffering from medical problems and 21 % had surgical problems; while 15%, 5.8%, and 5 6% had problems related to ENT, gynecology, and ophthalmic respectively. Gender based analysis revealed that respiratory (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chest infections including pneumonia) and cardiac problems (ischemic heart diseases including hypertension) were the common diseases among both genders. While diseases related to digestive system among female (cholecystitis / cholelithiasis, diabetes mellitus) and malignant neoplasm among male were the third commonest diseases. As gender differences is obvious in the hospitalization rate as well as in the prevalence of some of the diseases, specific care need to be given to improve health and to prevent further complications from the existing diseases. Conclusion: A prudent life style and exercise behaviors need to be enforced to promote healthy aging. It should be our shared responsibility to encourage the elderly to be healthy by adopting the principles of “Healthy Aging / Aging Well”. Journal of Institute of Medicine Vol.28(1) 2006