Geriatric syndromes in elderly hospitalized patients in China: a cross-sectional study

Geriatric syndromes are nonspecific symptoms and signs that occur with aging. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of geriatric syndromes among elderly hospitalized patients in China.

This cross-sectional study conducted a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) on elderly patients hospitalized in Ruijin Hospital Luwan Branch, between January 2023 and July 2024. The CGA included evaluations of pain, sleep, constipation, fall risk, urinary incontinence, polypharmacy, nutritional risk, and dementia.

A total of 150 patients were included in this study. The five most prevalent geriatric syndromes were sleep disorders (44.67%), polypharmacy (40.67%), fall risk (24.67%), urinary incontinence (21.33%), and malnutrition (20.67%). The fall risk was significantly higher in women compared to men (37.50% vs. 12.82%, p < 0.001). Additionally, widowed individuals exhibited higher rates of fall risk (57.70% vs. 9.62%, p < 0.001) and malnutrition (47.83% vs. 8.65%, p < 0.001) compared to married individuals and other groups, with statistically significant differences.

This study suggested that the incidence of sleep disorders, polypharmacy, and fall risk was relatively high among elderly hospitalized patients. Gender and marital status may have influenced the occurrence of these syndromes. Future care strategies could be tailored to specific populations.