Comparative Study of Morbidity Patterns and Sociodemographic Factors among Elderly in Old Age Homes and Residences, Puducherry

Introduction: Growing older is a universal process. The exact boundaries of old age cannot be determined because definitions vary from nation to nation. Aging is a complicated and irreversible process. Unlike earlier life phases, the World Health Organization defines old age as "the period of life when the impairment of physical and mental functions becomes increasingly manifested." Assessing the prevalence of illness patterns among senior persons residing in Puducherry's old age homes and residences is the aim of this study. Methods: A two-year community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at senior living facilities and households in the AVMCH field practice area. The sample consisted of 480 people selected using cluster sampling from 8 communities and 8 senior care facilities. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured, pre-validated questionnaire that covered sociodemographics and patterns of morbidity following informed permission. Excel and SPSS version 28 were used for the data analysis. Results: Among the 480 participants in the study, 36% were women and 64% were men. 37.9% of research participants were between the ages of 70 and 80. About 64.4% of people had at least one chronic condition, with 75.4% of those people living in an assisted living facility. 51.5% of the elderly had hypertension, the majority. The majority of sociodemographic variables were found to be important in relation to non-communicable diseases. Conclusion: An analysis of the noncommunicable disease morbidity pattern shows that older persons who live in assisted living facilities are more likely to suffer noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) than those who live at home. Most sociodemographic factors were found to have a significant impact on the morbidity pattern of a number of NCDs, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, visual impairment, and osteoarthritis.