الملخص الإنجليزي
Background: Elderly people aged 60 years and older are a vulnerable sector of the population. The percentage of old people in Oman increased from 3.0% in 1993 to 3.5% in 2010 and is expected to reach 15.2% of the total population in 2050. Ultimately Oman will face the challenge of continuing caring for the sizeable proportion of children and youth population as well as the growing number of population aged 60 years and above.
Aim: The study aimed at revealing the rates of physical and mental health problems among elderly population in Al-Dakhliyah governorate as well as the rates and predictors of depression, dementia, impairment of instrumental activities of daily living and activities of daily living. The analysis of the records of the comprehensive health assessment of elderly population provides insight into the health problems affecting this sector of the population as well as their ability to live independently and have a better quality of life. The ultimate goal is to identify their health and social needs and to explore means of meeting those needs.
Method: Records of the comprehensive assessment of elderly population conducted in 13 primary health care centers in Al-Dakhliyah governorate between 2008 and 2010 have been reviewed. A transfer sheet has been used extract the data from the hard copies of the records. The data covered the socio-demographic characteristics of elderly people, past medical history, life style patterns, medical and nutritional evaluation as well as the assessment of cognitive status and functional abilities. Data have been analyzed using the Statistical Package for social Sciences (SPSS, ver.19). The chi-square test, the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the determinants of depression, dementia, impairment of instrumental activities of daily living and activities of daily living. Significance of the obtained results was judged at 5% level.
Results: The majority of elderly people were illiterate, married and in the age group of 60 to less than 65 years. Women were more likely to be illiterate and to be divorced or widower and have unfavorable socioeconomic status. A substantial proportion of elderly reported the presence of chronic diseases and the use of medications with over presentation of women. Men were at higher risk of accidents outside the home while women were at higher risk of falls inside the home. Physical activity has been reported by more than half of the elderly with less prevalence among women. Independent predictors of depression were unfavorable socioeconomic status, cognitive impairment, joints problem, mobility restriction and impairment of activities of daily living. Dementia was independently predicted by age, gender, marital status, depression, mobility restriction and functional impairment. Impairment of instrumental activities of daily living is predicted by age, unfavorable socioeconomic status, stroke with residue, use of aid, joints problem, dementia and incontinence. Age, stroke with residue, poor perception of health, physical inactivity, corneal opacity, hearing defect, dementia, depression, incontinence, use of aid and mobility restriction predicted impairment of activities of daily living.
Conclusion: This study revealed that elderly suffer a multitude of physical and mental health problems that are inter-related and so are the risk factors underlying their occurrence. The findings underscore the holistic approach to the health of elderly people considering mental, physical and social domains.
