摘要：Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the morbidity profile and health care needs of elderly veterans and their elderly dependants residing in an urban gated society.Methodology: This cross -sectional observational study was done by house to house survey of veterans and their dependents more than 60 years residing in gated urban cooperative housing society.A predesigned questionnaire to assess the comorbidities (lifestyle diseases,geriatric syndromes,and reversible disabilities) and perceived health-care needs was administered.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics by SPSS 22 software.Results: Four hundred and six elderly veterans and their dependents were interviewed,which included 53.7% females.The mean age was 71.69 years.It was noted that 14.5% of the veterans were staying alone and required the help of a caregiver hired from outside.Chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) were common with more than 70% of veterans having two or more comorbidities.Hypertension was the commonest disease with a prevalence of 51.5% followed by diabetes (30.8%),decreased vision (28.6%),dental problems (25.1%),osteoarthritis (19.7%),and hearing impairment (18.7%).Only 4.2% of the subjects gave history of falls.Malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were reported by 3% each.Dementia was prevalent in 14.5% of the subjects.The greatest felt needs of the elderly were: A separate geriatric outpatient clinic,availability of transport for elderly within the hospital,separate queues at the dispensary and blood collection centres,and a geriatric helpline.Conclusion: CNCDs were present in more than 80% of elderly subjects surveyed.Hypertension was the commonest comorbidity followed by diabetes.Potentially,treatable disabilities were seen in one-third of the veterans.Separate geriatric clinic,separate facility for dispensing medicine,and blood collection centers and a geriatric helpline were the most felt needs by the elderly veterans and their dependents.
关键词：Aging;chronic noncommunicable diseases;community health services;veterans
