Prevalence of disability in Iranian older adults in Tehran, Iran: A population-based study
Introduction: The increase in the prevalence of disability has serious consequences for elders, their families, and the society in general. The effects of disability on an aging population’s health and welfare are important issues in gerontological research. The aim of the present study was to inves...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Edizioni FS
2016-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health and Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHHS13_251-262.pdf |
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| Summary: | Introduction: The increase in the prevalence of disability has serious consequences for elders, their families, and the society in general. The effects of disability on an aging population’s health and welfare are important issues in gerontological research. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of disability in the community-dwelling older adults living in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: In this large population-based cross-sectional study (Urban HEART-2), 15,069 individuals aged ≥ 60 years were selected randomly based on a multistage, cluster sampling in Tehran, Iran, in 2011. All participants were interviewed by trained personnel by means of a standardized questionnaire which asked about prevalence of disability, disability type and socio-demographic variables. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test.
Results: Of the total study population, 54.8% (n = 8,264) were males. The participants’ mean age was 68.93 years (SD = 7.27) and the participants’ mean of Body Mass Index (BMI) was 26.21 kg/m2 (SD = 4.40). Based on the results, the overall prevalence of disability was 11%. ‘Hearing Loss’ (68.3%) and ‘Hearing Impairment’ (10.4%) were the most prevalent types of disability that occurred in our sample. The majority of the participants were using services of private rehabilitation centers. There were statistically significant differences in terms of age, BMI, and educational background between the group of individuals who reported one or more types of disability and the group of individuals reporting none.
Conclusion: For older adults, disability directly affects daily functioning by restricting physical and social activities, the ability to maintain self-sufficiency, and ultimately the freedom to live a chosen lifestyle. Prevention strategies should focus on reducing the incidence of chronic disease and improving socioeconomic status of older adults. |
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| ISSN: | 2499-2240 2499-5886 |