Most patients in city hospitals suffer from infectious diseases

According to the Delhi government’s report on Social Consumption on Health in Delhi, 37.84 per cent patients admitted to city hospitals suffer from some sort of infection; while injuries, including road accidents, comprise 13.82 per cent. The report, released recently, is based on a survey conducted from January to June 2014. 

The report states that no woman from rural belt was admitted for cardio-vascular ailment, while 8,049 from urban areas were admitted to hospitals for the disease in the same duration.

“Infection is the main reason for sickness in Delhi. Out of the total number of patients visiting hospitals, 37.84 per cent suffer from some infection. The second most common reason for admission is accidents. About 13.82 per cent accident victims are admitted to city hospitals, followed by 11.94 per cent of joint diseases,” said the report released by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. 

According to the report, Delhi has 97.19 per cent urban population and 97.19 lakh households. 

In the report, heart and blood pressure-related diseases account for 6.14 per cent of total hospitalisation. The report indicates that no rural woman was admitted to hospital for cancer, blood, metabolic, nutritional, eye and skin problems in 2014.

However, in case of respiratory diseases, the number of rural men is zero against 957 women. “The number of urban women admitted to hospitals due to respiratory ailments was 4,337, while the figure for urban men stood at 10,421,” it states. 

In case of psychiatric and neurological diseases, the number of rural men was zero, while rural women recorded 4,510. The number of urban men and women was at 5,465 and 5,829, respectively.

As per the survey, the overall dependency ratio in Delhi per 100 is seven, whereas according to the 2011 Census 2011, it was 10. 

 The results show that 69.91 per cent of the aged people lived with their spouses and children, 14.21 per cent without spouse but with children and 13.83 per cent with spouse only, while about 1.88 per cent lived with other relatives. 

The highest number of ailing people was found in the age group of 45-59 years and those above 60.  The average duration of stay in government hospital was six days and that in a private hospital was five days.