Our study is the first to look at all seven of these common conditions together, and we found that they are very common and increase dramatically in prevalence with age, she says. To me, that says that clinicians need to ask patients about these issues. In many situations, they may be able to help manage the condition before it leads to disability.
In the medical world, experts have debated how to categorize conditions such as the ones in this study. Some are called geriatric syndromes, while others fall outside of categories typically used by physicians.
The lack of consistent terminology has been one obstacle to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, says senior author Caroline Blaum, M.D., M.S., associate professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at U-M and a research scientist at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System GRECC.
Such obstacles need to be overcome so that older adults can receive the best health care possible, she says. Geriatric conditions are integral to the health and function of older adults and should be addressed in their care, Blaum notes.
The researchers found a strong link between the conditions and dependence on others to help with activities of daily living. Just 2.6 percent of survey participants without any of the geriatric conditions were dependent on others for help with activities. That percentage jumped to 8.1 among people with one of the conditions, 19.4 among people with two conditions, and 45 among people with three or more conditions.
All conditions increased in prevalence with advancing age. Among older adults with cognitive impairment, for instance, 55 percent were 80 or older. Overall, 39 percent of people ages 65-69 were found to have one or more of the conditions. The percentage rose to 82 among people ages 90 and older.
Additionally, compared to those with no geriatric conditions,
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Contact: Katie Gazella
kgazella@umich.edu
734-764-2220
University of Michigan Health System
7-Aug-2007