Volume 24, Issue 101, January - February, 2020

The effect of chronic diseases on the lifestyle of the elderly people in Baghdad city, Iraq: A cross-sectional study

Sarah Waleed Hashim¹, Rasha Zaki Shukur^1♦, Haider Mohammed Jaafer²

¹Radiation Oncologist, Al-Amal National Hospital, Baghdad Medical City Complex, Ministry of Health/ Environment, Baghdad, Iraq
²Family Medicine specialty, Primary Health Care Center, Ministry of Health/ Environment, Baghdad, Iraq

^♦Corresponding author
Al-Amal National Hospital, Baghdad Medical City Complex, Ministry of Health/ Environment, Baghdad, Iraq Email: za4389452@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to assess the effect of chronic diseases on the lifestyle of elderly people. A cross sectional study with analytic element was conducted involving 210 participants of elderly people 60 years of age and above, sample from Baghdad. The sample was selected randomly from four different placesin Baghdad; those who attended the health institutes (as hospital and primary health care center) and from other institutes like national pension authority, banks, nursing homes-ministry of labor and social affairs, the data collection was done two days per week. The data collection were done at a period of 1stMarch 2017 to 1st September 2017. Elderly people were interviewed by a tested questionnaire. Socio-demographic, psychological and other life style characteristics were assessed including assessment scales to assess the functional and nutritional conditions. A 49.5% of elderly people were in the age group 60-64 years which were the majority of the studied sample, with a significant association between age groups and some of the chronic diseases especially hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Males were equal to females (50% males, 50% females). More than half of elderly people (57.6%) were married, 61.4% of total elderly people were not exercising routinely and regularly versus (38.6%) of them did, with strong significant association between lack of exercise and the presence of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Most of them were illiterates (35.7%), 47% of them were having good nutritional condition (with no nutritional risks) versus 53% were having nutritional risks (moderate to high risks) with a strong significant association between nutritional risks and presence of chronic disease like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, 48.1% were previous smokers as well as, 21.9% were active smokers with strong significant association between smoking and some chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. 86.7% of elderly people suffering from chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases (65.7%) were the most frequent chronic diseases with highest frequency among the studied sample. In conclusion, this study provides a clear insight into frequency of chronic diseases among older people in Baghdad, given the high frequency of chronic diseases, therefore, a national policy on the health of elderly people is needed that includes strengthen the screening programs and early detection of chronic diseases especially hypertension and diabetes among older people. It also emphasizes the importance of planning programs to increase elderly people's social assistance, and improve medical, health and counseling services for them.

Keywords: Life style, Quality of life, Chronic diseases, Old age, Baghdad

Medical Science, 2020, 24(101), 270-281

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