Perfil de morbilidad en menores y mayores de 65 años

Abstract

In Chile, there are few researches about people over 65 years of age and their prevalent diseases. A prospective study was done with 3.114 ambulatory patients attending the Diagnostic Center of the Catholic University. 25% of the group was over 65 years old with an average age of 71 .4_+5.3 (S.D.). 10% were single, 51% married and 360/o widows. In relationship with activity, 10% were active workers, 40% retired, and 50% women with house-related labours. 87% of the whole was living with the family. Morbidity frequency, in percentage, in the people under 65 years compared with the olders was: Infectious and parasitic diseases 7,2/2,3 (p <0.001 ); Cancer 1,1/1,2; Endocrinological, Metabolic, Inmunological diseases 13,4/14,5; Hematological disease 1,3/0,2 (p<0.05); MentaI diseases 8,6/2, 1 (p< 0.0001); Nervous System 2,6/2,5; Circulatory diseases 20,8/44,6 (p<0.00001); Urinary diseases 7,8/8,7; Dermatologic diseases 1,1/0,7; Osteomuscular and cognitive tissue 8,6/6,4 (p: NS); Injuries and accidents 5,3/3,2 (p<0.05). According with this research, there are statisfically significant differences between sociocultural situation and morbidity profile in people 65 years old over, in comparison with the younger group.