Prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the elderly people at selected old homes

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the elderly people attend at selected old homes. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, to find out the common respiratory symptoms, to identify the influencing demographic factors for such exposure group in relation to age, sex, previous occupations, long living area, smoking habit, past history of physical exercises, history of respiratory diseases, family history of respiratory diseases and past history of regular exposure to fume or dust and to figure out the level of physiotherapy service reception for respiratory symptoms among the elderly people. Methodology: The study design was cross sectional. Total 35 samples were collected by simple random sampling. Data was collected by mixed type of questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis which focused through table, pie chart and bar chart. Results: The study shows that 62.9% (n=22) participants had respiratory symptoms and male shows greater prevalence 54.5% (n=12). Participants who were in between 68-72 years of age group were most commonly suffered from respiratory symptoms 54.5% (n=12). 81.8% (n=18) participants, who were passing most of their time in urban area were more experienced to respiratory symptoms than semi urban area and most of the participants 45.5% (n=10) were service holder. Most common symptom was cough 31.8% (n=7), followed by breathlessness 22.7% (n=5), whistling 18.2% (n=4) and Cough with chest congestion 18.2% (n=4). Least common symptoms were stuffy nose 9.1% (n=2). Most of the participants 86.4% (n=19), had no past history of physical exercises followed by hypertensive drug user 63.6% (n= 14), chest diseases 54.5% (n=12), family history of respiratory diseases 50% (n=11), smoker 45.5% (n=10), were smoker and 18.2% (n=4), had the past history of regular exposure to fume or dust. Among the participants no one received physiotherapy treatment for their respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: Elderly people are more vulnerable to have respiratory symptoms. From the data base, it was found that almost two third of the participants reported respiratory symptoms and ratio of respiratory symptoms was higher in male. More research should be undertaken on respiratory symptoms among the elderly with an emphasis on larger sample sizes and response rate to be able to generalize the results and conclusions.