Health situation of the Elderly in Phayao Province

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to help health professionals and related partners in the province planning strategic projects based on up-to-date information. This study is a descriptive study. The population of the study is demographic data of the elderly obtained from seven general and community hospitals in the province. The statistics were analyzed using percentage and mean.

The results show that in B.E. 2558. Phayao province had the total population of 476,839. The number of the elderly was 81,219 (17.03 percent) and has been increasing steadily. There are more female than male. The leading cause of death was the respiratory tract, followed by the lower respiratory tract disease, kidney failure, malignant of throat bronchus and lung. The leading cause of premature death of the elderly in the province was kidney failure, followed by the lower respiratory tract disease and malignant of the throat bronchus and lung. The inpatient data showed the leading cause of illness among the elderly was hypertension, followed by kidney failure and chronic lower respiratory disease. The result from relative weight analysis showed the significant cause of illness was kidney failure, followed by hypertension and chronic lower respiratory disease.

The analysis of the elderly health situation in Phayao Province found that the most notable diseases were kidney failure, followed by chronic lower respiratory disease and hypertension. The most notable disease in the age group was chronic lower respiratory disease, followed by cerebrovascular disease and pneumonia. The inferior disease in this age group were kidney failure, followed by hypertension, malignant neoplasm of trachea-bronchus and lung, malignant tumors of bile ducts in the liver, diabetes and liver disease.

In conclusion, the Contracting Unit of Primary Health Care Network should have comprehensive project to combat health problems. Meanwhile, there can be initial projects aiming other age groups to minimize health problems which will occur when they get older.