ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM DIABETES MELLITUS, HYPERTENSION, COPD, DEMENTIA, BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA, JOINT DISEASES THROUGH PROVED HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES

Abstract

Background: As the global population over 60 years of age is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050 , there is an increasing need to evaluate holistic interventions for age-related chronic conditions. This study assesses the impact of individualized & therapeutic homoeopathic treatment on the quality of life (QoL) of elderly patients suffering from various chronic ailments. Objective: To determine the spectrum of diagnoses and describe the course of illness and quality of life over 12 months in elderly patients receiving homeopathic care. Materials and Methods: A prospective, multicentre observational study was conducted at the Geriatric & Peripheral OPDs of GHMC, Bhopal, involving 835 participants aged 60 and older. Patients with diagnoses including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD, dementia, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and joint diseases were included. Participants received individualized & therapeutic homoeopathic medicines in centesimal potencies. Clinical progress was evaluated at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) (0 = no complaints, 10 = maximum severity) recorded by both patients and physicians. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Results: The most frequent complaint was hypertension (n=613), followed by musculoskeletal disorders (n=536) and diabetes mellitus (n=292). Both patient and physician assessments showed a significant downward trend in NRS scores, indicating improved quality of life (p < .001). • Patient-reported NRS: Mean scores decreased from 4.67 (baseline) to 3.36 (12 months), with a large effect size (η2p = 0.31). • Physician-reported NRS: Mean scores decreased from 4.65 (baseline) to 3.22 (12 months), with a slightly higher effect size (η2p = 0.35). The greatest mean reduction occurred between baseline and the 12-month mark. Conclusion: The findings suggest a highly significant and consistent improvement in the quality of life for elderly patients with chronic illnesses undergoing homoeopathic treatment. While physicians rated improvements slightly more optimistically than patients, the high correlation between both perspectives validates the clinical progress observed over the one-year period.