The investigation of geriatric syndromes in hospitalized patients

Abstract

Objective To understand the incidence of common geriatric syndromes in hospitalized patients,and analyze the relationship between different kinds of geriatric syndromes.Methods A crosssectional study was conducted by five well-trained investigators-300 patients were chosen from geriatric department and medical department within 3 top three hospitals in Chengdu.Results 300 copies of questionnaires were distributed in total,and 300 questionnaires were returned (response rate 100％).Among those,277 questionnaires were considered valid (valid response rate 92.3％).Among those elderly which were above 65 years old,having risk of falling accounted for 91.3％,feeling pain accounted for 79.1％,chronic constipation accounted for 59.2％,having risk of malnutrition accounted for 49.1％,malnutrition accounted for 28.2％,having risk of pressure ulcers accounted for 32.5％,incontinence accounted for 25.3％,and dysphagia accounted for 17％.The correlation among these syndromes was signifcant.Conclusions The overall incidence of geriatric syndromes in hospitalized patients is higher than that in the community.These syndromes are correlated with each other.One can be a risk factor of other geriatric syndromes and also could affect each other. Key words: Geriatric syndromes; Hospitalized patients; Status quo investigation