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Background: Multi-morbidity is a pervasive and growing issue worldwide. The prevalence of multi-morbidity varies across different populations and settings, but it is particularly common among older adults. It poses substantial physical, psychological, and socio-economic burdens on individuals, caregivers and healthcare systems. In this context, the present study aims to provide an insight on the prevalence and degree of multi-morbidity; and also, on the relationship between level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions among a group of slum-dwelling older women. Methods: This community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the slum areas of urban Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It includes total 500 older women, aged 60 years or above. Pre-tested schedules on so-demographic and morbidity profile have canvassed to obtain the information by door-to-door survey. To determine the relationship between the level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions, correspondence analysis has performed. Results: The study revealed three most prevalent morbid conditions- back and/or joint pain, dental caries/cavity and hypertension. The overall prevalence of multi-morbidity was 95.8% in this group of older women. It was highly over-represented by the oldest-old age group (80 years and above). Majority were found to suffer from five simultaneous morbid conditions that accounted for 15.2% of the total respondents. All of the oldest-old women of this study reported to suffer from more than two medical conditions simultaneously. Three distinct groups were formed based on the inter-relationship between level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions. The group 1 and 2 represents only 27.8% and 18% of the total sample. Whereas, group 3 comprises the highest level of morbidities (≥ 6) and 52.8% of total sample, and strongly related with general debilities, cardiac problems, asthma/COPD, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal problems, neurological disorders, hypothyroidism and oral health issues. Conclusion: The findings confirmed the assertion that multi-morbidity in slum living older adults is a problem with high prevalence and complexity. This study proposes an easily replicable approach of understanding complex interaction of morbidities that can help further in identifying the healthcare needs of older adults to provide them with healthy and more productive life expectancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: India experiences a growing aging population and prioritizing the comprehension of respiratory health concerns among the elderly becomes crucial. Those in the elderly demographic residing in urban slums confront notable socioeconomic obstacles and encounter restricted healthcare accessibility, heightening their vulnerability to respiratory illnesses. Therefore, examining respiratory health in this specific urban context provides insights into how living conditions impact the health of vulnerable populations. Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate the occurrence of respiratory abnormalities among slum-dwelling elderly women and also to determine the concomitant factors responsible for respiratory abnormalities among them. Material and Methods: The study includes a total of 261 elderly women aged 60 years and above living in slum areas of Kolkata. The standard protocols were followed to collect spirometry and anthropometric data. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to satisfy the study objectives. Results: The majority of the participants show forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV0.1) below the predicted level, indicating the presence of mild-to-moderate respiratory abnormality. Chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) was observed in 15.2% of elderly women, significantly higher than the national average. The study identified significant correlations between age and respiratory abnormalities. Factors such as overcrowded living conditions, the absence of a separate kitchen, and the use of certain cooking fuels increased the likelihood of COPD. Body fat percentage was found to be inversely related to FVC, FEV0.1, and COPD. Conclusion: The poor living conditions and a few other associated factors are indicative of developing respiratory problems among elderly individuals. As the global population ages, this study contributes valuable insights for public health strategies, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to address the specific challenges faced by elderly women in urban slums in the megacity of Kolkata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elderly are one of the most vulnerable groups to heat-related illnesses and mortality. In tropical countries like India, where heat waves have increased in frequency and severity, few studies have focused on the level of stress experienced by the elderly. The study presented here included 130 elderly residents of Kolkata slums and 180 elderly residents of rural villages about 75 km south of Kolkata. It used miniature monitoring devices to continuously measure temperature, humidity, and heat index experienced during everyday activities over 24-h study periods, during hot summer months. In the Kolkata slum, construction materials and the urban heat island effect combined to create hotter indoor than outdoor conditions throughout the day, and particularly at night. As a result, elderly slum residents were 4.3 times more likely to experience dangerous heat index levels (≥ 45°C) compared to rural village elderly. In both locations, the median 24-h heat indexes of active elderly were up to 2°C higher than inactive/sedentary elderly (F = 25.479, p < 0.001). Among Kolkata slums residents, there were no significant gender differences in heat exposure during the day or night, but in the rural village, elderly women were 4 times more likely to experience dangerous heat index levels during the hottest times of the day compared to elderly men. Given the decline in thermoregulatory capacity associated with aging and the increasing severity of extreme summer heat in India, these results forecast a growing public health challenge that will require both scientific and government attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social change and development is an important current concern in community level studies, particularly in developing countries. Future health prospects depend increasingly on globalization processes and on the impact of global environmental change. Globalization affects the institutional, economic, social-cultural and ecological determinants of population health. Social support and social networks are important influencing factors for aging adults and also have been shown to exert significant effects on mental health and functioning. Many such networks are intergenerational and are increasingly being seen as arenas to provide opportunities for collective and collaborative knowledge exchange. Although there have been many studies in India on social networks and social support in different communities, comparative studies on the prevalence of social networks and social support between rural and urban elderly and their effect on mental health in West Bengal are virtually lacking. The present cross sectional study is purported to explore the rural-urban difference in the prevalence of social networks and social support and their role in mental health problems (specifically depression and anxiety). The Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) and Social Network Index (SNI) was used for collection of data on social support and social network, respectively. The study results have shown that the mean score of social support were higher among rural elderly in comparison to their urban counterparts but mean scores of social networks were higher in the case of urban elderly. In both the mental health traits, rural study participants demonstrated significantly higher mean values compared to their urban counterparts. Urbanrural difference was significant in most of the categories of social support, social networks in one hand, and depression, anxiety on the other. Social support and networks play an important role in the mental health of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]