Abstract
BackgroundIn this study, we investigated subjective geriatric complaints (SGCs) as conditions regarding health concerns in community-dwelling older people and analyzed their frequencies with aging and relationships with other factors.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled 10,434 older people living in a community with a representative aging population in Japan. A questionnaire was sent by mail to those who had not applied for formal care needs certification. The presence of and concern for symptoms common in old age were asked as SGCs, as were physical function levels, multimorbidity, and depression. Categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA) of the symptoms was performed, and the association between the obtained components and other factors was analyzed.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 73.7 ± 6.1 years, and 52.5% were women. On average, they had 1.72 ± 1.57 SGCs, which showed a gradual increase with age. The results of the CATPCA revealed four components: SGC1, excretory/circulatory/swallowing complaints; SGC2, audiovisual complaints; SGC3, neurological complaints; and SGC4, musculoskeletal complaints. All SGC components were independently associated with physical function, multimorbidity, and depression.ConclusionsEach SGC showed various frequencies and differences along with aging, and SGCs were classified into four components that were thought to share a common background. These findings could contribute to the planning of better health management strategies for older people.
Highlights
The aging of the population and advances in medical treatment have resulted in an increasing number of older people with concurrent multiple diseases and conditions
The mean age of the participants was 73.7 ± 6.1 years, and 52.5% were women. They had 1.72 ± 1.57 subjective geriatric complaints (SGCs), which showed a gradual increase with age
All SGC components were independently associated with physical function, multimorbidity, and depression
Summary
The aging of the population and advances in medical treatment have resulted in an increasing number of older people with concurrent multiple diseases and conditions. Some conditions are difficult to define as a single disease because of multiple factors associated with age-related changes in various organs and systems; these conditions are called geriatric syndromes and include symptoms such as urinary incontinence, pressure sores, delirium, and falls [2–5], which are sometimes referred to as geriatric giants because they have been a major challenge in terms of quality of life (QOL) among older people [6]. The symptoms associated with geriatric syndromes and frailty have been combined into geriatric conditions, and increased vulnerabilities to impairments in activities of daily living and a poor prognosis after emergency hospitalization with geriatric conditions have been observed [19, 20]. We investigated subjective geriatric complaints (SGCs) as conditions regarding health concerns in community-dwelling older people and analyzed their frequencies with aging and relationships with other factors
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
