Multimorbidity Patterns and Quality of Life of Elderly Individuals Attending the Center for Health and Wellbeing at a Tertiary Care Hospital: An Observational Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Although old age is inevitable, it can be delayed and maintained in good health by researching the causes of low quality of life (QOL) and mitigating them through medical intervention or counseling. Both objective and subjective aspects are frequently used to assess QOL. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze morbidity patterns and QOL among elderly patients visiting the Centre for Health and Wellbeing, a tertiary care hospital. METHODOLOGY: An observational study was conducted on elderly patients over 60 undergoing general health screenings at the Department of Community Medicine's Centre for Health and Wellbeing. The WHO Quality of Life - Brief was used to assess the morbidity patterns and QOL of elderly individuals. OBSERVATIONS: The gender-wise differences in each category revealed lower scores among males than females, but the difference was not statistically significant. The physical domain had a higher mean score (50.5 ± 15.5) than the psychological, social, and environmental domains. Type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and genitourinary disorders were the most prevalent morbidities, affecting 50% of the elderly population. CONCLUSION: The relationship between multimorbidity and QOL in the elderly emphasizes the significant impact of multiple health conditions on overall wellbeing, leading to a poorer QOL. These findings highlight the necessity of targeted interventions that address the functional, social, and psychological aspects of medical management and care.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.78646
Institutions: Shri BM Patil Medical College, BLDE (Deemed to be University)
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4407205478