SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN PREVALENCE AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC LUNG DISEASES AMONG OLDER ADULTS OF INDIA

The chronic lung diseases (CLDs) include chronic obstructive pulmonary lung diseases (COPD), asthma and bronchitis. Among these three, the COPD is the largest contributor of mortality and morbidity. This aims to examine the socioeconomic inequality and predictors of untreated chronic lung diseases (UCLDs) among older adults in India. We have used a sample of 73,396 individuals successfully interviewed in LASI. This study was restricted to 65,768 individuals from all states, who had aged above 45 years and responded to all the variables of interest for this study. The univariate and bivariate analysis was performed for age-sex adjusted estimates of UCLDs. Further, logistic regression was used to identify the potential predictors and Erreygers Concentration Index (ECI) to understand the inequality of CLDs and UCLDs across the socioeconomic characteristics. The overall prevalence of CLD was estimated as 6.7% (95% CI: 6.0% - 7.4%), asthma was 4.8% (95% CI: 4.4% - 5.2%), COPD was 1.4% (95% CI: 1.0% - 1.8%), and bronchitis was 1.2% (95% CI: 0.8% - 1.6%). Individuals in the richest MPCE quintile and those with health insurance are less likely to have UCLD, but those who were currently married and those in the age group 75+ years were more likely to have untreated lung disease. ECI for prevalence of chronic lung disease and COPD were statistically significant at 0.012 and 0.007, respectively, indicating a higher concentration in the prevalence of both the disease among the wealthy. Similarly, ECI value for the prevalence of UCLD was -0.054, indicates to higher concentration among poorer older adults.