Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: June | Volume: 13 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 153-160
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230627
Morbidity Pattern and Illness Variances among the Elderly Seen in General Out-Patient Department of Comprehensive Health Centre, Ukpo, South East Nigeria
Jerry Kelechukwu Akagha1, Kelechi Raphael Onyenemezu 2, John Chiedu Ubah 3 Jennifer Makuochukwu Akosa 2, Chukwuemelie Darlington Okeke4, Obinna Valentine Ikwuka2, Tobechukwu Chinenye Ezike2 Hyginus Echezona Okonkwo5, Emmanuel Izuchukwu Onyenemezu6, Odera Chizua Ijere7
1Runai Specialist Hospital, Awka, Nigeria, 2College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA, 3 Internal Medicine, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK, 4 Internal Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria, 5 Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 6 School of Health and Live Sciences, Teesside University, 7Deda Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
Corresponding Author:Kelechi Raphael Onyenemezu
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The elderly comprises the fastest-expanding age group globally. Disease and deteriorating health are implicitly assumed to be associated with aging, as chronic medical illnesses mostly present with increasing age. This study sought to assess the morbidity pattern among elderly patients seen in the General Out-patients Department (GOPD) of the comprehensive health center, Ukpo in South East, Nigeria.
Methodology: This was a retrospective descriptive study of data obtained from health records of 140 patients aged ≥65 years who visited the facility between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2020. Information obtained included their age, occupational status, place of domicile, educational status, and a diagnosis made at presentation. Data was analysed using the SPSS-26 software package.
Result: Females accounted for 72.90% of respondents while 27.1% were males, with a male to female ratio of 1:2.7. 14.29% of the geriatric morbidity was due to communicable diseases predominantly malaria (7.80%) while diseases of the cardiovascular system (32.62%) and joints (21.28%) were the commonest non-communicable diseases. Chi-square analysis showed a strong correlation between age and the distribution of morbidities among geriatric patients (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Non-communicable diseases like hypertension, arthritis, and cataract were common in the geriatric population in this study.
Practical implications: It is pertinent that further health training, adequate facilities, and good health coverage needed to cater to the health needs of this unique population group are provided to improve their quality of life.
Key words: Elderly, Hypertension, Morbidity pattern, Nigeria, Non-communicable diseases, South-east, Ukpo.