Chronic diseases among older people in Amirkola, northern Islamic Republic of Iran.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken to describe the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors in elderly people in Amirkola, Islamic Republic of Iran. A total of 1019 people aged 60+ years were assessed using a standard questionnaire and a review of medical records. The most common chronic diseases were cardiovascular disease (29.5%), digestive disorders (28.5%), hypertension (23.6%) and diabetes mellitus (23.5%), while 44.4% of subjects were overweight or obese. Overall, 83.0% of the sample reported at least 1 chronic disease and 64% had 2 or more diseases. In age-adjusted logistic regression analysis, hypertension (OR 3.94, 95% CI: 2.87-5.40) and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.83, 95% CI: 1.32-2.55) were associated with cardiovascular disease, but sex, smoking, overweight and lack of walking were not. The study provides valuable data for planning appropriate health services for elderly people in this area of the Islamic Republic of Iran.