Context:

• This article is based on an Editorial “An ageing India needs age-responsive TB care” which was published in the Hindu. October 1 is observed as International Day of Older Persons. India is moving towards a future where the elderly will make up a significant proportion of society (expected to be 12.5% by 2030), primarily due to advances in health care and increased life expectancy. 

International Day of Older Persons: How Tuberculosis Affects India’s Elderly Population? 

• Affected Population: TB affects over 25 lakh Indians every year, and kills at least 1,000 every day. 
• Affected Aging Population: India’s National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey, 2021, revealed that the prevalence of TB in people over the age of 55 was 588 (per one lakh population), much higher than the overall national prevalence of 316. 
• Reason for high prevalence of TB among Aging Population: Symptoms of TB including cough, fatigue and weight loss are mistaken as signs of other diseases or dismissed as signs of old age. 
  • The risk of having a TB diagnosis delayed or missed altogether is higher for the elderly compared to other adults.

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Challenges and Potential Strategies

• The challenges faced by older individuals in the context of tuberculosis (TB) are multifaceted and require targeted efforts to address them. 
• Here are the challenges and potential strategies to overcome them:

Conclusion

The elderly represent a storehouse of wisdom, and respect for their rights and freedoms benefits society. On this International Day of Older Persons, we must resolve to invest in the health of our elderly population, and pay attention to their unique needs.