Prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of chronic morbidity among elderly people in Kosovo: a population-based survey

Abstract

BackgroundOur aim was to assess the prevalence and demographic and socioeconomic correlates of chronic morbidity in the elderly population of transitional Kosovo.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2011 including a representative sample of 1890 individuals aged ≥65 years (949 men, mean age 73 ± 6 years; 941 women, mean age 74 ± 7 years; response rate: 83%). A structured questionnaire inquired about the presence and the number of self-reported chronic diseases among elderly people, and their access to medical care. Demographic and socioeconomic data were also collected. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics with chronic conditions.ResultsIn this nationwide population-based sample in Kosovo, 42% of elderly people were unable to access medical care, of whom 88% due to unaffordable costs. About 83% of the elderly people reported at least one chronic condition (63% cardiovascular diseases), and 45% had at least two chronic diseases. In multivariable-adjusted models, factors associated with the presence of chronic conditions and/or multimorbidity were female sex, older age, self-perceived poverty and the inability to access medical care.ConclusionThis study provides important evidence on the magnitude and distribution of chronic conditions among the elderly population of Kosovo. Our findings suggest that, in this sample of elderly people from Kosovo, the oldest-old (especially women) and the poor endure the vast majority of chronic conditions. These findings point to the urgent need to establish a social health insurance scheme including the marginalized segments of elderly people in this transitional country.

Factors and Estimation of Risk for Cardiovascular Diseases among Patients in Primary Health Care in Central Serbia

“…Results of the research conducted in Kosovo in 2011, noted that the prevalence rate of diabetes was 17.6% and 19% in Albania, which is a slightly higher rate than the one presented in our research (21,22). The cause could be the elderly subjects (over 65 years of age) included in this research (23,24), but also poor socio-economic and educational status.…”

Health seeking behaviour of elderly in rani block, Kamrup (Rural) district, Assam: a community based cross sectional study

“…6.75% considered the morbidities to be due to age, 6.75% said that there was nobody to take them to hospital, 6.5% trusted God for healing and 3.25% considered the health services to be too far. Naim Jerliu et al 19 in a study conducted in Kosovo found that 42% of elderly people were unable to access medical care, of whom 88% due to unaffordable costs.…”

Multimorbidity associated with polypharmacy and negative self-perception of health

“…A prevalence of the outcome (multimorbidity) of 45% 18 , a sample error of 5%, a confidence interval of 95% and a power of 80% were used to calculate the sample size, and provided a result of 381 elderly persons. This total was multiplied by 1.5 for the design effect, resulting in 571 elderly persons.…”