Burden of Limitations of Activities of Daily Living among Geriatric Nigerians with Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Resource-Limited Nigerian Primary Care Clinic in Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Globally, there is emerging increase in the population of elderly. Despite the process of natural aging, elderly population in addition suffer musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) which affect their activities of daily living (ADLs). Aim: The study was designed to determine the burden of limitations of activities of daily living among geriatric Nigerians with musculoskeletal disorders in a resource-limited Nigerian primary care clinic in Eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out on 894 geriatric patients who were screened for MSDs and 130 of them who had diagnoses of MSDs were studied. Data was collected using a pretested, structured and interviewer administered questionnaire. Each ADL was scored on a four points Likert scale and assessed in the previous one month from the domains of physical, personal, domestic, instrumental and spiritual activities of daily living. Patients who scored 0 had no affectation of ADLs while those who scored 1-3 were variably affected. Results: The prevalence of MSDs was 14.5%. Three most common musculoskeletal disorders were low back pain (36.9%), osteoarthritis of weight bearing joints (30.0%) and spine curvature disorders (17.7%). Physical activity was most commonly affected (89.2%) and spiritual activity was least affected (8.5%). Conclusion: MSDs are common among geriatric Nigerians with the most common being low back pain. Physical ADL was predominantly affected while spiritual ADL was least affected. Strategies to improve ADLs should constitute targets for intervention during clinical encounter with geriatric patients with MSDs in primary care settings.