Naslov
Prevention of immobility, instability, dependence and urinary incontinence in the Croatian elderly

Autori
Tomek-Roksandić, Spomenka ; Perko, Goran ; Mihok, Diana ; Puljak, Ana ; Radašević, Hrvoje ; Čulig, Josip

Izvornik
Journal für menopause (1023-0904) 12 (2005), 2; 14-32

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Prevention of immobility; instability; Croatian elderly

Sažetak
Introduction: Demographic aging of the Croatian population is on a steady increase. The rising proportion of the elderly in the Croatian population has resulted from both the increased life expectancy and the decreased birth rate and fertility. At present, the most vulnerable, very old (75-84) and very very old ( 85) age groups account for the largest part of geriatric health care requirements that imply modifications in the structure of health care utilization with a considerable increase in geriatric health care cost. Aims: Gerontologic studies in Croatia point to a high prevalence of four gerontologic-public health problems in the elderly, i.e. immobility manifesting as the geriatric immobility syndrome in the elderly ; instability due to the high rate of injuries and falls in the elderly ; independence due to the ever increasing rate of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the oldest age group ; and a high rate of urinary incontinence in geriatric patients. Materials and methods: Data on the four leading gerontologic-public health problems were collected by use of the 2001 census ; standardized methodologic instrumentarium, i.e. Filing lists No. 1, 2, 2.2 and 3 for monitoring health requirements of elderly beneficiaries according to established methodology of the Institute Department of Gerontology, CROSTAT and EUROSTAT ; and mortality and morbidity indicators from gerontologic database. Results: Results of the analysis of health needs and functional disablement revealed 50% to 70% of the elderly living in Zagreb old people's homes to suffer from urinary incontinence. The proportion of individuals with urinary incontinence could be considerably reduced by implementing the program of preventive health care measures for elderly beneficiaries with urinary incontinence. Gerontologic analysis of functional disablement according to physical mobility, which has been systematically monitored, studied and evaluated by the Department as part of the activities on keeping the Registry of Functional Ability in the Elderly, showed the disabled elderly to account for 21.36% (n=148170) of the elderly population in Croatia (N=693540). Conclusion: The aging associated with debilitating diseases can be prevented by systematic detection and elimination or modification of risk factors leading to the development of the four major gerontologic-public health problems in the elderly (figure 1) through implementation of the program of preventive health care measures for this population, thus reducing the ever increasing geriatric health care utilization. This is substantiated by the favorable effects of actions addressing the factors of debilitating aging, performed in industrialized countries over the last few decades, on health improvement and preservation of functional ability to the very old age.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

Napomena
Online ISSN 1680-9394

POVEZANOST RADA