A STUDY OF MORBIDITY PROFILE AMONG GERIATRIC POPULATION IN AN URBAN AREA

India has acquired the label of an ageing nation. The elderly suffer from mainly two types of health problems i.e. medical and psychosocial. Common medical problems include cardiovascular, visual, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases, while common psychosocial problems include impaired memory and intelligence, anxiety, depression, rigidity of outlook, dependency and dissatisfaction with family members, occupation and earning. The objective of the study was to assess the morbidity profile among geriatric population in Urban Health Centre, Turbhe, of Navi Mumbai. A community based Cross sectional study was performed. The study included all geriatric population which was defined as 60 years and above in the study area, who have resided in the study area for at least one year. 93.12% elderly were morbid in the study area. With increasing age the number of morbidities was found to be increasing. The most common morbidity among geriatrics found was psychosocial problems i.e. stress in 95(59.4%) followed by musculoskeletal system problems in 89 (55.6%), eye problem like diminished vision mostly due to cataract 74 (46.3%). Problems of cardiovascular system like hypertension, dental system, respiratory system, ENT (hearing impairment) and endocrine like diabetes accounted for 45 (28.1 %), 35(21.9 %), 19( 11.9 %),17 ( 10.6 %)and 16 ( 10.0 %) respectively.