Prevalence of mental illnesses in elderly in a romanian district
April 1, 2010
| Abstract Title: | Prevalence of mental illnesses in elderly in a romanian district |
| Authors: | Delia Marina Podea1, Dana Negru2, Ramona Maria Chenderes1, Ioana Rucsanda Jurca3 |
| Affiliation: | 1 “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, Romania 2 Arad Public Health Department Romania 3 Arad Educational Support and Resource Centre, Romania |
| Abstract text: | Mental disorders’ incidence in Romania has an ascendant evolution, being 50.74‰ in 1970 and increasing to 97.5‰ in 2007. We tried to establish the specific issues and trends for mental disorders related to age categories, gender and diagnosis. Between 2005 and 2008, in the Arad County, we have noticed a high frequency for neurotic, anxious disorders (143.75), depressive disorders (104.25) and nonorganic sleep disorders (68.00), numbers below the world average, but superior to European ones. Our study was performed, using ICD-10 diagnostic codes, appreciating the central tendency, variation, dispersion, and the degree of association between the variables. The data was statistically processed using the SPSS 12.0 for Windows and MedCalc. The incidence of mental illnesses in males presents a significant rise from 0.022‰ in 2005 to 0.898‰ in 2007, maybe due to the loss of the socio-economic status. The median incidence on age categories increases from 38.26 in 16-64 years group to 61.33 in the over 65 years arm. In respect to cognitive decline, including dementia, this increase is steep in the over 65 years arm, meaning 76.22 vs. 4.39. Age is a positive associated risk factor in women (p=0.001) and men (p=0.041), corroborated by the loss and absence of socio-professional activity, including retirement. In Arad County, the most frequent mental disorders are neurotic, anxious, depressive disorders and nonorganic sleep disorders. In the last 4 years in Arad County a spectacular homogenization of the gender rate report can be observed, with the female gender being in first place. The incidence of the onset of mental disorders is almost double in patients over 65 compared to 16-64 age groups. In the age group 16-64 years, the average age for onset is around 48 years with the tendency to appear at around 40, in the future. Conclusions: In order to decrease the incidence of mental disorders and the long hospitalization period for Arad County, rapid family and professional reintegration by means of the social support networks is of high importance. |
| Keywords: | mental disorders, incidence, age, gender, socio-economic status |
| Presentation type: | Oral |
| Correspondence: | no. 17 Octavian Goga St., 310022, Arad, Romania |
| Email: | deliapodea@yahoo.com |
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