Preventive Care Magazines

The biggest underlying risk factor for chronic disease in older people is high blood pressure, which can explain 12 to 19% of the total burden of disease in developing countries. India has around 90 million elderly and the figure is expected to increase to 315 million constituting 20% of the total population by 2050. The risk factors for chronic diseases vary by country. For example, 63% of men over 50 in India smoke, compared with only 11% in Ghana. In China, 51% of women over 50 have high blood pressure, compared with 27% in India. Additionally, there is an increasing proportion of elderly at 80+ ages and is more pronounced among women. According to UNFPA report, “The overwhelming burden of disease in older persons is from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Heart disease, stroke and chronic lung disease are the biggest killers. Visual and hearing impairment, dementia and osteoarthritis are the main causes of disability. These diseases affect older persons in developing countries far more than in the developed world.” Sarode VM., Chronic Diseases Related to Aging and Disease Prevention in Slums in Mumbai Journal of general practice being an open access health care journal, considers disease prevention and chronic disease management as a serious issue to be discussed.

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Last date updated on April, 2024