Association between urinary tract infections and anemia among the elderly in India: Insights from the longitudinal aging study

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) among the elderly remain an overlooked and important health concern, which can hamper their physical and overall well-being. From an epidemiological perspective, UTIs represent a common yet preventable infection. This study aimed to examine the association between UTIs and anemia in India, along with other determinants, using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), Wave 1 (2017-18), among the elderly (aged more than 60). It explores how health, socio-demographic, economic, and regional factors contribute to UTI prevalence, providing insights into the underlying vulnerabilities within this population. Descriptive statistics, variance inflation factor, and multivariate binary logistic regression models were applied to examine the association between UTIs and factors such as anemia, age, gender, education, income, and access to sanitation facilities. Results revealed that about 2.5% of the elderly had UTIs, with higher rates observed in males, those over 80 years old, and individuals who were diabetic or anemic. The study also sheds light upon geographical variations, with the Eastern region having the highest prevalence and Southern India the lowest. Major predictors of UTIs include advancing age, lower income, experience of stroke, diagnosis of hypertension, presence of diabetes, lack of education, and inadequate sanitation, with anemia serving as a significant risk factor. Surprisingly, higher education levels were associated with increased self-reporting of UTIs, likely due to greater awareness. Tackling UTIs and related health concerns among India's elderly requires targeted interventions strengthening healthcare access, improving sanitation, and promoting public awareness. With a growing aging population, these measures are important to enhancing their well-being and ensuring healthier later years, leading to the achievement of SDG 3.