Elderly Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases in Bangladesh: An Examination of Comorbidities, Hospital Stay, and Mortality

Abstract

Background: The elderly population in Bangladesh is growing at an unprecedented rate, with projections indicating that by 2050, 21.9% of the population will be aged 60 years and above. Objective: To describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of elderly patients hospitalized due to infectious diseases in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Cumilla Medicare General Hospital, Cumilla, Bangladesh, from September 2023 to June 2024. 130 elderly patients (aged 60 years and above) hospitalized with infections were included. Data were collected on demographic variables, comorbidities, types of infections, length of hospital stay, and treatment outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, with p-values calculated to assess the significance of associations. Results: Most patients were 60-69 years old (57.7%), with a higher proportion of males (57.7%). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were the most common infection (34.6%), followed by pneumonia (23.1%) and respiratory tract infections (19.2%). Comorbidities, particularly hypertension and diabetes, were significantly associated with UTI (p=0.002 and p=0.015, respectively). The mean length of hospital stay was the longest for sepsis patients (10.5 days). Overall, 76.9% of patients recovered, while 15.4% were re-admitted, and 7.7% died during the hospital stay. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant burden of infectious diseases among elderly patients in Bangladesh. Urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and respiratory tract infections are the most prevalent, with comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes contributing to increased vulnerability. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to reduce the risk of infections and improve healthcare access for the elderly.