Health challenges faced by older Pinoys

A study funded by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia and implemented by the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, Inc. lists the various health challenges being faced by older Filipinos. The 2023 study is a follow-up of the first one done from December to March 2019.

Of the 5,985 respondents interviewed in the first study, only 4,397 were still alive, 1,579 deceased, and nine lost to follow-up. A total of 4,011 surviving respondents and 1,514 informants of deceased respondents were interviewed in the 2023 survey.

Among the findings of the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) were the following:

• Hypertension is the most commonly diagnosed illness. Older Filipinos experience a high prevalence of physician-diagnosed illnesses, primarily noncommunicable diseases, poor oral health, pain, and falls. Hypertension is the most commonly diagnosed illness (48%), followed by cataracts (19%) and arthritis, neuralgia, or rheumatism (18%). Nearly 5% have had a heart attack, with the first attack occurring at an average age of 58 years. Among those who experienced heart attacks, only two in five (42%) are presently taking medication for their heart condition, with the highest proportion (61%) being in the youngest age group (<70). One in three older individuals (33%) are often troubled with pain, of which 58% described the pain as moderate and 9% felt severe pain. Nearly a quarter of older individuals experienced a fall in the past 12 months. Those who experienced a fall in the past year reported an average of two falls, with 15% requiring medical treatment.
• Functional difficulties are prevalent. One in five older persons (20%) reported experiencing difficulties performing at least one of the seven activities of daily living (ADLs). The most prevalent ADL difficulties for older people are going outside/leaving the house (15%) and standing up from a bed/sitting down on a chair (11%). Physical functioning deteriorates with advancing age, with 44% of the oldest age cohort encountering at least one ADL difficulty. A higher proportion of older individuals (32%) are experiencing at least one difficulty in the seven instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).
• Older Filipinos have an unmet need for health services. About a fifth of older people face difficulties accessing healthcare services when needed, mostly due to financial reasons. Significant proportions are not aware of government programmes aimed at promoting the health of older people, such as the free vaccination programme for pneumococcal disease and influenza, as well as free medicines for hypertension and diabetes.