ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the morbidity and the influence factors of the geriatric syndrome in the elderly inpatients. Methods The characteristics of comprehensive geriatric assessment of180 elderly inpatients (83 male and 97 female) with age older than 65 in geriatric department from November 2014 to November 2015 were analyzed. Results Of 180 elderly patients, the incidences of visual loss, multiple co-morbidity, polypharmacy, impairment in activities of daily living, urinary incontinence, chronic constipation and chronic pain were 86.11%(155/180), 85.56%(154/180), 82.78%(149/180), 56.11%(101/180), 49.44%(89/180), 46.67%(75/180) and 42.22%(76/180). Female patients had more incidences compared with male in urinary incontinence [56.70%(55/97) vs. 40.96%(34/83)], chronic pain [56.70% (55/97) vs. 25.30%(21/83)] , impairment in activities of daily living [64.95%(63/97) vs. 45.78%(38/83)] and high risk of falling [43.30%(42/97) vs. 21.69%(18/83)], and there were significant differences (P<0.05). In addition, it was found that with the increasing of age, the incidences of hearing loss and chronic constipation, as well as medications were accordingly higher. When the patients′education level was higher, the incidences of urinary incontinence and impairment in activities of daily living were generally declined. Compared with non-diabetes mellitus group, diabetes mellitus group had higher incidences of comorbidities, multiple co-morbidity, medications, polypharmacy and impairment in activities of daily living:(10.59 ± 3.72) kinds vs. (8.29 ± 4.03) kinds, 94.59%(105/111) vs. 71.01%(49/69), (10.07 ± 3.77) kinds vs. (6.87 ± 3.07) kinds, 89.19%(99/111) vs. 72.46%(50/69), 62.16%(69/111) vs. 46.38% (32/69). With the increasing of the numbers of diabetes- related chronic complications, the incidences of visual loss, chronic constipation and multiple co- morbidity, comorbidities and medications were higher (P<0.05). Conclusions Geriatric syndrome such as visual loss, multiple co- morbidity, polypharmacy, impairment in activities of daily living and urinary incontinence are very common in the elderly inpatients. Elderly patients with diabetes mellitus are much easier to suffer from geriatric syndrome such as multiple co-morbidity, polypharmacy and impairment in activities of daily living.