Seval Akgun, Professor, Coskun Bakar, Specialist, Isıl Irem Budakoglu, Specialist, and Rengin Erdal, Professor. Department of Public Health, Baskent University, School of Medicine, 12. street. 7/8, 06490, Bahcelievler, Ankara, Turkey, 00-90-312-2120434, sevala@baskent-ank.edu.tr

Aim: Mental and neurological disorders cause a large burden of disease and disability especially among older population. A study was performed to determine the health and mental health status of aged 65 years and over patients hospitalized at Baskent University Hospitals Network. Method: A standard questionnaire consisting of questions about the patients' mental health status was applied by face-to-face interview technique and patients' records were evaluated to assess their diagnosis and blood test results. Results : The mean age of study population was 71.7±5.8. 31.9 % them had cardiovasculer problems, 26.4% of them had diabetes mellitus, 30.8% of them were hypertensive, 8.8% of them had renal failure, 5.5 % of them had cancer, 14.3 % of them had gastro intestinal system problem, 17.7 % of them had orthopedic problem, 6.6 % of them had neurological problem and 5.5 % of them had COPD. The mean of hemoglobin, albumin and cholesterol of male was 13.27±2.2, 6.78±2.1, 163.9±26.1 respectively while the means for female were 12.15±2.5, 3.62±0.9, 210.5±53.2 respectively. When the mental health status was evaluated, it was determined that 26.4 % of them had insomnia occasionally, 13.2 % of them couldn't focus their attention during working, 11.0 % of them had difficulties in making decision, 6.6 % were depressive and 35.2 % of them lost of his/her self-confidence. Conclusion: The study results showed that cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus are the main diseases seen among the hospitalized patients however mental health disorders also pose a serious burden of disease in this group.

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