Introduction: The percentage of national populations over age 65 has been increasing in the last 10 years. Clinicians and the public health community need to develop a culture of sensitivity to the needs of elderly population and its subgroups. Sensory changes, cognitive changes, and weakness may be subtle or may be severe in the heterogeneous population of people over age 65. Falls, cardiovascular disease, and difficulty with activities of daily living are common but not universal. This paper reviews relevant changes of normal aging, diseases, and syndromes common in people over age 65, cognitive and psychological changes, social and environmental changes.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out to assess different age-related diseases and public health implications in elderly population. Google scholar data base and PubMed has been searched. Epidemiological studies, experimental studies, inquiries or editorials on the mentioned theme published from 2015 until 2022 were included. specific keywords including “Public health”, “age-related diseases” and “elderly population” have been used.
Results: The review highlighted that older adult faced a range of physical, social and psychological challenges due to living with chronic conditions and required care and support in three main areas: 1) social activities and relationships; 2) psychological health; and 3) activities related to mobility, self-care and domestic life. It has been reported that some hearing and vision loss are a part of normal aging as is decline in immune function. Cardiovascular disease includes chronic ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmia, and osteoporosis and dementia are common chronic conditions at age 65. A recent study published in USA showed that osteoarthritis is the second most common chronic condition among American older adults and a common cause of chronic pain and disability. Osteoarthritis, diabetes, and related mobility disability will increase in prevalence as the population ages and becomes more overweight.
Conclusion: These population changes have considerable public health importance. Caregiver support, services in the home, assistive technologies, and promotion of home exercise programs as well as consideration of transportation and housing policies are recommended by recent literatures. For clinicians, judicious prescribing and ordering of tests includes a consideration of life expectancy, lag time to benefit, and patient goals. Furthermore, healthy behaviors starting in early childhood can optimize quality of life among the oldest-old.
Keywords: public Health, age-related disease, aging, elderly population.