Abstract

The aging population globally faces a growing burden of chronic diseases, including neurological and non-neurological disorders, necessitating specialized rehabilitation services. Limited access to such care in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh underscores the need for targeted research to inform healthcare policies and resource allocation. This study aimed to identify the commonly presenting neurological and other disorders in the geriatric population requiring rehabilitation. A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted on 2,478 geriatric patients attending a neurorehabilitation outpatient. Data were retrospectively collected from outpatient department records from January 2018 to December 2023. Sociodemographic characteristics, disease profile, and neurological and non-neurological distribution were assessed. Gender-based associations were analyzed using chi-squared tests. The majority of participants were male (63.2%), aged ≤70 years (71.79%), and housewives formed the largest occupational group (45.68%). Hypertension (46.30%), diabetes (25.77%), and arthritis (20.04%) were the most prevalent non-neurological comorbidities, while stroke (60.75%) dominated among neurological disorders. Males showed a higher prevalence of no non-neurological (35.12%), but a higher prevalence of single neurological disorders (76.82%), while females exhibited a greater proportion of two or more non-neurological (22.59%) as well as a good proportion of single neurological disorders (72.92%). This study provides valuable insights into the morbidity patterns of elderly patients and demands therapeutic approaches for their rehabilitation. Gender-specific approaches and targeted interventions are essential. Serving as a baseline data, it helps in planning for Physiatrists and Therapists to get comprehensive and goal-oriented training, and to arrange the rehabilitation set-up to attend to the standard conditions more efficiently.