INDIA REPORT on Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1 was released by Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare on 6th January 2021.
LASI: It isa full-scale national survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social determinants and consequences of population ageing in India, which was commissioned in 2016. It is India’s first and the world’s largest ever survey that provides a longitudinal database for designing policies and programs for the older population.
Who conducts the survey: It is being conductedthrough International Institute for Population Sciences in collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health, University of Southern California, United Nations Population Fund and National Institute on Ageing.
Coverage: Wave 1 covered a baseline sample of 72,250 individuals aged 45 and above till the oldest-old persons aged 75 and above from all States and UTs of India (except Sikkim).
Objective/Significance: As it collects detailed data on health and biomarkers together with information on family and social network, income, assets, and consumption, it can be used to improve the scope of National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly. It can also help in establishing a range of preventive and health care programs for older population.
Key Findings
There is higher prevalence of chronic diseases among older adults (aged 60 years and above) compared to those in the 45–59 year old group.
There is prevalence of Undiagnosed and under diagnosed diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and vision impairment.
Health insurance coverage among older adults is only around 20% while non-communicable diseases are the major cause of hospitalization among this group.
There is prevalence of Gender differences in the health, social and economic wellbeing of older adults.
Eg. heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease and neurological problems are higher among men, while hypertension, anemia, bronchitis, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, bone or joint disease, and cancer are prevalent more among women.
Place of residence, caste, religion, education and income significantly affect the wellbeing of older adults.
A large proportion of older adults are working in the informal sector which makes them ineligible to receive a pension after retirement from work. It negatively affects their social security.
