The frequency and influencing factors of common geriatric syndromes in hospitalized patients

Abstract

Background: Geriatric syndromes affect the quality of life of older adults and pose a heavy burden on society and families. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multi-dimensional diagnotic process including medical assessment, physical function assessment, cognitive and psychological function assessment, social/environmental factors assessment. Objective: This study investigated ten common geriatric syndromes by CGA in hospitalized patients and aimed to provide guidance for the comprehensive management of senile patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 376 older inpatients from two tertiary hospitals in Chengdu, China. The survey contained ten geriatric syndromes, including daily living capacity, swallowing disorders, polypharmacy, comorbidities, chronic pain, malnutrition, falls, urinary incontinence, chronic constipation, and pressure sore. Frequency and influencing factors of these geriatric syndromes were assessed by CGA. Results: The highest prevalence of CGA in this study was functional independence which accounted for 89.10% of the 376 patients, followed by malnutrition risk (69.68%), chronic pain (68.09%), polypharmacy(65.16%), chronic constipation(51.60%),urinary incontinence (40.96%). Risk of falls accounted for 35.11% of the total, which was similar to the pressure ulcers risk (33.51%). 13.83% had dysphagia. Only 3.72% of all the patients had comorbidities. There were significant differences in the prevalence of chronic pain and high risk of falls between men and women (P <0.05). There were statistic differences in the prevalence of polypharmacy, chronic pain, high risk of falls, urinary incontinence, and constipation among elderly patients of different ages (P <0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the age was the most important factor for geriatric syndromes. Besides, gender, exercise, diet, smoking, economy, culture, marriage, living condition and medical payment were also the influencing factors of geriatric syndromes. Conclusions: Geriatric syndromes were common in China elderly inpatients and age is the most important influencing factor.