Influence of geriatric syndromes on physical performance and fall risk in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the impact of geriatric syndromes on physical performance and fall risk in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A total of 179 elderly inpatients and outpatients with diabetes mellitus in the geriatric department of Zhejiang Hospital were recruited in this cross-sectional study.According to the number of geriatric syndromes including frailty, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, depression, poly-pharmacy and co-morbidity, patients were classified into Group A(n=40, with ≤1 geriatric syndrome), Group B(n=84, with 2-3 geriatric syndromes)and Group C(n=55, with ≥4 geriatric syndromes). Clinical data and physical performance status, fall risk and one-year fall history were compared between the groups.Effects of each geriatric syndrome on disability in daily life, balance and gait ability, and increased fall risk in elderly patients were further analyzed.Results:Patients with more geriatric syndromes were older, had a higher proportion of using walking aids and a higher prevalence of disability in daily life, balance and gait impairment, and increased fall risk( P<0.05). Furthermore, univariate and multivariate Logistic regression indicated that frailty and malnutrition were risk factors for disability in daily life( OR=3.467 and 3.369, P<0.05)and balance and gait impairment( OR=3.031 and 3.266, P<0.05), and that cognition impairment was a risk factor for increased fall risk( OR=2.559, P<0.05)and balance and gait impairment( OR=3.930, P<0.05). Conclusions:Frailty, malnutrition and cognition impairment can lead to physical performance impairment and increased fall risk in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Clinical intervention should be conducted to improve the quality of life in elderly adults.