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Effect of Geriatric Health Screening on Early Detection of Chronic Diseases among Older Adults in Nigeria

Abstract

Chronic diseases remain a major public health concern among older adults in Nigeria as increasing life expectancy and demographic changes contribute to a growing population of people aged 60 years and above. Older adults are more likely to develop chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, and other age-related health conditions. Many of these conditions may remain undiagnosed for extended periods because they can develop gradually without obvious symptoms during their early stages. Late detection may result in delayed treatment, complications, disability, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. Geriatric health screening provides an opportunity to identify chronic diseases and other health risks among older adults through routine assessment of blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index, cardiovascular risk, vision, hearing, cognitive function, and other relevant health indicators. Regular screening may facilitate early diagnosis, timely treatment, appropriate referral, and continued monitoring of chronic conditions. However, limited access to geriatric healthcare services, inadequate screening facilities, shortages of trained healthcare personnel, financial barriers, low awareness, transportation difficulties, and poor integration of geriatric screening into primary healthcare may limit screening uptake among older adults in Nigeria. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of geriatric health screening on early detection of chronic diseases among older adults in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, and the Health Systems Framework. The Health Belief Model explains how older adults' perceptions of susceptibility to chronic diseases, perceived severity, perceived benefits of screening, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence participation in geriatric health screening. Andersen's Behavioral Model explains healthcare utilization through predisposing, enabling, and need-related factors and provides a framework for understanding older adults' use of preventive health services. The Health Systems Framework emphasizes service delivery, health workforce, health information, medical products and technologies, financing, and accessibility as essential components of effective healthcare delivery. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how geriatric health screening may influence the early detection of chronic diseases among older adults in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative cross-sectional analytical or quasi-experimental research design. The study population will comprise adults aged 60 years and above residing in selected communities and accessing healthcare services in Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, local government areas, communities, healthcare facilities, and eligible older adults. Geriatric health screening will be measured using indicators such as frequency of screening, availability of screening services, blood pressure assessment, blood glucose testing, body mass index assessment, cardiovascular risk assessment, cancer screening where appropriate, vision and hearing assessment, cognitive health assessment, and access to trained healthcare personnel. Early detection of chronic diseases will be assessed using indicators such as newly identified cases of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular conditions, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer and other relevant chronic conditions, stage or severity at diagnosis, abnormal screening findings, confirmation of suspected conditions, referral for further assessment, and initiation of treatment following detection. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, geriatric screening records, healthcare facility registers, laboratory reports, medical records, community health records, and relevant programme documents. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, screening utilization, and patterns of chronic disease detection. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis, will be used to determine the effect of geriatric health screening on early detection of chronic diseases. Where appropriate, detection rates before and after participation in screening programmes may be compared to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that geriatric health screening has a significant positive effect on the early detection of chronic diseases among older adults in Nigeria. Older adults who participate in regular geriatric health screening are expected to have a higher likelihood of having chronic diseases identified at an early stage than those with limited or no access to screening services. Routine assessment of blood pressure, blood glucose, cardiovascular risk, body mass index, and other relevant health indicators may facilitate the identification of previously undiagnosed chronic conditions and allow timely treatment and follow-up. Early detection may also reduce the risk of disease progression and complications by enabling healthcare providers to initiate appropriate management and lifestyle interventions. Conversely, inadequate screening coverage, limited geriatric healthcare services, shortage of trained healthcare personnel, financial barriers, transportation difficulties, low awareness, and poor follow-up systems may contribute to delayed detection of chronic diseases. The study therefore expects regular and accessible geriatric health screening to contribute significantly to early detection and management of chronic diseases among older adults in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on geriatric health screening, chronic disease detection, older adult health, preventive healthcare, ageing, primary healthcare, non-communicable diseases, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, state ministries of health, primary healthcare centres, hospitals, geriatric healthcare providers, community health workers, older adult health programmes, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving preventive healthcare among older adults. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for expanding geriatric health screening services, integrating routine chronic disease screening into primary healthcare, improving access to affordable screening, strengthening healthcare worker training in geriatric care, increasing awareness among older adults and caregivers, improving referral and follow-up systems, and strengthening community-based screening programmes to promote early detection and management of chronic diseases among older adults across Nigeria.

Keywords: Geriatric health screening, early detection, chronic diseases, older adults, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, preventive healthcare, non-communicable diseases, primary healthcare, ageing, Nigeria, public health.