Health care utilization among geriatric patients with respiratory diseases – An Indian perspective

Background: The elderly population is continuously growing and respiratory diseases account for 20% of chronic diseases among ageing people; these diseases are often treated imprecisely. Thus, the health-care system should adapt to the growing health needs of the elderly population. Aims: To study health care utilisation by geriatric patients with respiratory diseases. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study of the elderly aged 60 years and over was conducted in the urban and rural areas of the National Capital Region and the Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh. The first part of the study included socio-demographic characteristics and self-reported co-morbidities. In this first part, suspected respiratory cases were screened out, and a questionnaire regarding health-care utilisation was administered. The effect of socio-demographic factors on health-care utilisation was analysed. Results: In urban areas, 282/1522 (18.5%) and in rural areas, 298/1503 (19.8%) were found to suffer from respiratory illnesses. Health-care utilisation among elderly patients was significantly higher in urban areas compared to rural areas. In both areas, a large number of elderly people (70.5% rural and 61.7% urban) were insufficiently utilising health-care services. The socio-economic status (P = 0.034) and the source of income (P = 0.002) of urban residents were found to be significant factors. Among rural residents, health security (P = 0.05) and source of income (P = 0.002) were found to be statistically significant. Among the combined population (580), socio-economic status (P = 0.020) and source of income (P = 0.002) were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Health-care utilisation was better in urban residents than in rural elderly. However, majority of the elderly were utilising health-care services insufficiently in both areas. Socio-economic status and source of income had a significant effect on health-care utilisation.