Population Aging Trend and Necessity of Geriatric Medicine in IRAN

As the world population is getting older, health care for elderly becomes important. Distribution of specialties related to elderly health care is highly variable. To assess the distribution of specialties related to elderly and the aged population (i.e. over 65 yrs.) a prospective analytical study was designed from 1999-2009. During this 10 year period ageing process was increasing, initially slow but rapid in the last years. Internists, cardiologists, neuro-psychiatrics, and neurologists in the beginning of period had an increasing trend and declined in the mid-period then had decreasing trends. Orthopedic surgeons were almost increasing in all of the decade. In present, the number of geriatricians are fewer than 10 in the whole country, and health policy should move toward health care providing for elderly. Keeping in mind that aging process is increasing recently, number of specialists and physicians caring for elderly should also increase. (abstract: truncated at: 144 words). [Ali Alizadeh, Mirza Ali Nazarnejhad, Jahan Pour Ali Pour, Gholamali Javidan, Abdolazim Nejatizadeh, Syed Mohamad Moosavi, Tasnim Eghbal Eftekhaari. Population Aging Trend and Necessity of Geriatric Medicine in IRAN. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):643-648] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 98