No abstract

Background: The prevalence of respiratory morbidity among elderly in rural area ranges between 31-35%. Quality of life is a subjective measure of wellbeing. Multiple morbidities have effect on quality of life. Aims & Objective: (1) To study the prevalence and risk factors of respiratory morbidity among the elderly at a village in Bangalore Urban district; (2) To assess the quality of life among them. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross sectional study conducted at Tarabanahalli, Bangalore Urban District, Karnataka. Study subjects consisted of elderly population aged ≥ 60 years residing at Tarabanahalli for at least 6 months. Data collection was done using a structured interview schedule based on SGRQ-C (St George's respiratory questionnaire for COPD) and WHOQOL-BREF. Brief clinical examination of respiratory system was also done. Data analysis was done using SPSS for frequencies, measures of central tendencies, independent sample T test. Results: Total number of study subjects was 64. Males were 23(36%) and females were 41 (64%). Majority of the study subjects i.e 44 (68.75%) belonged to the age group 60-69 years. Longest held job by most of the respondents was agriculture 61(95.3%).100% reported that they had 'moderate' occupational exposure to dust. 24 (37.5%) of the study subjects had the respiratory morbidity. Inadequate ventilation in the kitchen and use of firewood as cooking fuel were significantly associated with respiratory morbidity. There was no significant association between age, gender, type of job, years of exposure to dust, level of exposure at workplace, H/o smoking tobacco ever, current smoking, passive smoking & respiratory morbidity. Conclusion: A significant negative association was found between respiratory morbidity and 'Physical health' domain of quality of life.

It is anticipated that occupational bus drivers are at risk of non-communicable diseases. Present study aims at assessing the nutritional status and analyzing the risk factors associated, which could increase the probability of non-communicable diseases among bus drivers and conductors working for Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation.120 professional drivers and conductors who attended annual health checkup were included. A pre designed questionnaire elicited information about anthropometry, dietary, physical activity and sleep pattern of the subjects. Lipid profile and blood glucose levels were recorded from annual health check up reports. Mean age of the subjects was 44 years with BMI ranging between 25- 29.9Kg/m2. 73.3% had mixed diet pattern, 40% skip their meals sometime and majority eat their meals outside home most of the days in a week.74.2% didn’t indulge in physical activity. 56.7% subjects slept six to seven hours per day. 17.5% were diabetic, 52.5%, 80.8% and 17.5%had higher serum triglycerides, Low Density Lipoprotein and total cholesterol respectively. 57.5% had lower High Density Lipoprotein levels. 8.3%, 21.7% and 15% were smokers, alcoholic and tobacco chewers respectively. ‘t’ test analysis showed significant difference between energy, protein and visible fat intake with that of Recommended Dietary Allowance and Estimated Average Requirement. Total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein and serum triglycerides had positive correlation with energy, protein and visible fat intake and BMI. Considerable risk factors for non-communicable diseases were observed among the subjects; effective diet counseling with regular follow up and monitoring is necessary to prevent the same. Key words: Occupational drivers, nutritional status, risk factors, dietary pattern, physical activity, Non Communicable Diseases, effective counseling.