Some health problems of the elderly people in Long Bien and Quoc Oai district, Hanoi, 2023

Abstract

This study aims to describe some health problems of the elderly in Hanoi. A crosssectional study was conducted using the direct interview method of 450 older adults aged ≥ 60 years old in Bo De ward, Long Bien district and Ngoc My commune, Quoc Oai district, Hanoi from June to November 2023. The results showed that vision function was rated moderate and poor status at the highest rate (43.2%), followed by hearing ability with the moderate and poor level accounted for 27.7%) and mobility (26.7%). Common health problems of the elderly included musculoskeletal diseases (28.0%), hypertension (26.7%), insomnia/ sleep disorders (12.0%), and diabetes (7.8%). The elderly chose different medical facilities for medical examination in the last 6 months, in which district hospitals are the most popular treatment location, accounting for 38.5% of the medical facilities that elderly people go to for medical examination. The research results show that Hanoi’s health care programs should focus on health care for the elderly, focusing on impaired functions such as vision, hearing, mobility as well as common health problems, including musculoskeletal system, high blood pressure, insomnia, diabetes.