Corneal ulceration in the elderly in Hyderabad, south India

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of malnutrition among free-living elderly in a rural population of south India.DesignCross-sectional study. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire, which is an eighteen-item nutritional screening instrument used in the elderly.SettingKaniyambadi block, a rural development block in the state of Tamil Nadu, south India.SubjectsCommunity-dwelling elderly (aged 60 years and above).ResultsAs evaluated by the MNA, 14 % of the 227 subjects were malnourished and 49 % were at risk of malnourishment. No significant difference was found between men and women. The majority of the elderly were living with their children, had no income and consumed three meals per day. Older age (P < 0·001), decreased food intake (P < 0·001) and consuming fewer meals (P < 0·001) were independently associated with lower MNA scores.ConclusionsMore than 60 % of the subjects had low MNA scores (<23·5) indicating that deficient protein–energy intake is common among rural elderly of south India and requires more attention.

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Incidence of corneal ulceration in South India (Reply to the letter by Stephanie Fook Chong and David Machin)

Ophthalmic Epidemiology ◽

10.1076/opep.5.1.6.1495 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 6-6

Author(s):

John P. Whitcher ◽

Christine A. Gonzales

Keyword(s):

South India ◽

Corneal Ulceration

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Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among the elderly in rural Puducherry, South India

International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health ◽

10.5455/ijmsph.2018.0720920072018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 854

Author(s):

Karthiga Vijayakumar ◽

Sujiv Akkilagunta ◽

Ganesh S ◽

Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy ◽

Gayathri Surendran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Associated Factors ◽

South India ◽

The Elderly ◽

Prevalence Of Anemia

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Suicide in the elderly in Kaniyambadi block, Tamil Nadu, South India

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1002/gps.1385 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 20 (10) ◽

pp. 953-955 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

V. J. Abraham ◽

S. Abraham ◽

K. S. Jacob

Keyword(s):

Tamil Nadu ◽

South India ◽

The Elderly

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Epidemiology and aetiological diagnosis of corneal ulceration in Madurai, south India

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjo.81.11.965 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 81 (11) ◽

pp. 965-971 ◽

Cited By ~ 268

Author(s):

M Srinivasan ◽

C. A Gonzales ◽

C. George ◽

V. Cevallos ◽

J. M Mascarenhas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South India ◽

Corneal Ulceration ◽

Aetiological Diagnosis

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Prevalence of depression among elderly population in rural South India

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20202502 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 2377

Author(s):

Vivin Vincent ◽

Jeevithan Shanmugam ◽

Shanmugapriya Duraisamy ◽

Padmavathy Loganathan ◽

Vijay Ganeshkumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

South India ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Severe Depression ◽

The Elderly ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Prevalence Of Depression

Background: Depression among elderly is the commonest psychiatric disorder however it is commonly misdiagnosed and under treated. Most of the time it is considered as part of aging process rather than a treatable condition. Diagnosing depression in the elderly is often difficult as a result of presence of cognitive impairment as well as reluctance and denial by the elderly and their family members. Objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of depression among elderly rural population in South India. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted over a period of 2 months among 575 elderly people aged 60 years and above in the rural field practice area of a tertiary care hospital in south India using a pre validated Geriatric Depression Scale. Data entered and analysed using MS Excel.Results: 77.56% of the study participants were found to be depressed. Among them 74.66% were mild depressive and 25.34% had severe depression. Depression was common in elderly males as compared to females. The prevalence of depression was higher in those who live single and those living with their children without their spouse and those with co morbidities.Conclusions: Prevalence of depression among elderly is high in rural areas. It also increases as the age increases. Early identification and timely intervention would promote healthy old age.

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