Evaluation of old-age disability and related factors among an Iranian elderly population

Abstract

Old-age disability has become a public health concern. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of disability and its related factors among the elderly population in Kashan city, Islamic Republic of Iran. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a multistage random sample of 350 elderly people. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II was used as the disability measure. Overall, 37.1% had mild ageing disability, 38.6% moderate, 20.0% severe and 4.3% extreme disability. Significant relationships were observed between disability and sex, age, living status, needing help, marital status, urban/rural residence, drug addiction, duration of addiction, employment status, having regular physical activity, level of education, health perception, history of hospitalization in the last year and having multiple diseases. Considering the rapid increase in the aged population in Islamic Republic of Iran, more attention should be paid to the health of elderly people.