abstract
This study investigates mortality and morbidity patterns across four ethnic groups in North Kashmir: Kashmiris, Hanjis, Dards, and Gujjars, focusing on health disparities among the elderly. Cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of mortality, with 25.7% of Kashmiris, 22.5% of Hanjis, 25.9% of Dards, and 26.7% of Gujjars affected. Chronic conditions such as arthritis, hypertension, and chronic renal diseases were notably prevalent, especially among Gujjars (12.55%) and Hanji (6.85%) populations. The Elbow Method analysis revealed four disease clusters, emphasizing Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, Chronic Renal Diseases, and Chronic Respiratory Diseases. These findings highlight the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and underline the need for targeted healthcare interventions to address chronic conditions, improve healthcare access, and reduce health disparities in North Kashmir.