Chronic diseases and senile changes in the elderly population, Tehran, Iran

• Main Author: Tootoonchi P
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research 2004-07-01
• Series: Payesh
• Subjects: elderly; risk factor; chronic disease; disability
• Online Access: http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-803-en.html
• ISSN: 1680-7626; 2008-4536

Objective(s): To determine prevalence rates and risk factors for some common chronic diseases and senile changes leading to disability in pensioners of Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in Tehran between September 2002 and September 2003. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data on demographic characteristics and senile features were collected by interviews. Data on history of chronic diseases were collected from individual computerized data cards. Results: There were 193 male (30%) and 452 female (70%). 80% of our elderly subjects had at least one chronic disease. The most common chronic condition was osteoarthritis (79.2%). 79.22% of population were taking drugs on a long-term basis. Only 2 persons didnchr('39')t show any changes associated with disability. The presence of chronic diseases in the elderly was significantly related to age and marital status (P< 0.001). Conciusion: Chronic diseases and senne changes associated with disability were very common among the study population. Younger age and marital status are significant preventive factors for chronic diseases. Our results need to be confirmed by other nationwide studies.