Prevalence & pattern of respiratory diseases including Tuberculosis in elderly in Ghaziabad - Delhi - NCR

Elderly population is continuously increasing all over the world including India. Old age is associated with significant prevalence of chronic illnesses. Population based study to find prevalence & pattern of respiratory diseases in elderly in India is difficult to find. Present study was done in an urban locality of Ghaziabad inhabited mainly by low socio - economic status population. Two part questionnaire was used as main tool. Through part one 1522 elderly were screened for respiratory disease. Respiratory disease was confirmed & diagnosed by part two of questionnaire, physical examination & necessary investigations. Prevalence of respiratory diseases was 18.8% in this study. Prevalence of respiratory diseases was almost double in elderly males as compared to females. COPD was most prevalent respiratory disease followed by Bronchial asthma.