| dc.description.abstract | Abstract:-Non-Communicable diseases
(NCDs) have become a major global health
problem. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes
mellitus, cancer and chronic respiratory
diseases are considered as major NCDs.
Those conditions commonly can be seen
among elderly populations. Therefore this,
community based cross sectional study was
conducted among 368 participants over the
age of 60 years to determine the prevalence
of NCDs and its associated anthropometric
measurements among elderly living in
Kesbewa secretariat division, Colombo
district, Sri Lanka. A representative sample
was obtained by multi-stage cluster
sampling technique. A pre-tested
interviewer administered questionnaire
was used and body mass index (BMI), waist
hip ratio (WHR) were calculated through the
anthropometric measurements. Statistical
analysis was done by SPSS 23.0. Among the
respondents, 60.9% (n=224) were females
and mean age was 69.53±6.147. Out of the
total sample 58.1% (n=214) of respondents
were suffering from major NCDs. The
prevalence of cardiovascular diseases,
diabetes mellitus (DM), cancer, chronic
respiratory diseases were 19.3%, 40.2%
1.6%, and 12% respectively and 42.4%
respondents were suffering from at least
one NCD. The results suggested that BMI
(P<0.05) and WHR (p<0.05) are significantly
associated with major NCDs. The analysis
revealed significant association between DM
and overweight (p<0.05). There was no
significant association between other major
NCDs with overweight. The prevalence of
NCDs are considerably high and higher BMI
& WHR are the major study observation of
NCDs among elderly. As the factors are
considered as modifiable risk factors,
actions should be taken to address at
community level to reduce the disease
burden associated with NCDs. | en_US |
