Associated Factors of Long-Term Disabilities among the Elderly in Catchment Area of a Primary Care Unit, Nakhon Ratchasima

Abstract

Objectives: Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of long-term disabilities and common chronic conditions, associated with the disabilities and to set priority of the problems. Methods: Between December 2002 and January 2003, the cross-sectional study was conducted in catchment area of a primary care unit (PCU), Nakhon Ratchasima province. A long-term disability was defined as any restriction or lack of ability from medical conditions more than 6 months. Participants aged 60 years and older were selected by two-stage, stratified, random cluster sampling and were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire. The associated factors were analyzed and population attributable risk fractions (PARF) were calculated. Results: Eighty-one of 316 (25.6%) of Thai elderly people had the long-term disabilities. The common chronic conditions found with the long-term disabilities were knee pain/osteoarthritis (34.4%), back pain (23.3%), and cataract/poor vision (19.3%). The elderly with knee pain/osteoarthritis (odds ratio (OR) 2.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51, 4.74) or cataract/poor vision (OR 2.25, 95%CI 1.19, 4.24) or back pain (OR 2.19, 95%CI 1.15, 4.16) were associated with the long-term disabilities. The PARF of knee pain/osteoarthritis, back pain, and cataract were responsible for 36.6%, 21.7%, and 19.4% of the long-term disabilities, respectively. Conclusion: Knee pain/osteoarthritis accounted for the long-term disability among Thai elderly people. The results were similar to international findings and guided the prioritization of appropriate public health interventions in the catchment area of the PCU.