Geriatric giants--contemporary occurrence in 12,210 in-patients

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Advancing age is associated with increased dependency and the prevalence of geriatric syndromes (GS), also known as geriatric giants.
• Understanding the patterns of GS across different age groups is crucial for geriatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare the occurrence of geriatric syndromes among various age groups of elderly patients admitted to an acute geriatric department.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study analyzed 12,210 elderly patients (aged 65-103) hospitalized between 1995 and 2012.
• Patients were divided into three age subgroups: 65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years.
• Geriatric syndromes, including falls, immobility, incontinence, and cognitive impairment, were assessed and compared across age groups and sexes.

Main Results:

• 31.0% of patients had no geriatric syndromes; prevalence increased significantly with age (p<0.001).
• Falls, immobility, incontinence, and dementia/cognitive impairment showed higher occurrence in older age groups and in females.
• ROC analysis indicated age cut-offs for GS occurrence around 83.5-84.5 years for females and 78.5-82.5 years for males.

Conclusions:

• The incidence of geriatric giants rises with age and is more common in females.
• These findings have significant implications for individuals, families, and future healthcare and social care costs.