The Co-Occurrence of Multiple Geriatric Syndromes and Their Health-Related and Socio-Demographic Factors and Their Impact on Health Care Service Utilization and Mortality among Older Adults

Background: Geriatric syndromes (or so-called geriatric conditions), such as falls, urinary incontinence, cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms, are highly prevalent and are associated with adverse health outcomes in older adults. Few studies have examined the association between co-occurrence of multiple geriatric syndromes and their health-related and socio-demographic factors. To date the study of the co-occurrence of multiple geriatric syndromes in older adults and their impacts on health care service utilization and mortality has yet to be adequately characterized. Objective: The objectives of this study are shown as followed. First year: To investigate the prevalence of concurrent multiple geriatric syndromes in the older adult population. We also aimed to explore the association between health-related and socio-demographic factors and concurrent multiple geriatric syndromes in older adults. Second year: To examine the impact of concurrent multiple geriatric syndromes on health care service utilization and mortality in the elderly. Method: The study population included participants in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in Taiwan in 2005. Those individuals aged 65 and above will be included in this study. Of the potential participants, those who provided consent for data linkage to 2005-2007 claims data from the Bureau of National Health Insurance could be obtained, will be eligible for analysis to explore the association between the concurrent multiple geriatric syndromes and health care utilization in the present study. Deaths will be verified by indexing to the 2006-2010 National Register of Deaths with a personal identification number. In this study, geriatric syndromes will include impaired cognitive function, depression symptoms, urinary incontinence, and fall. The Mini-Mental State Examination was used to assess cognitive function. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis: Logistic regression analysis will be performed to assess the association between concurrent multiple geriatric syndromes and its associated factors. Negative binomial regression will be used to estimate the parameters specified in the health care utilization model. Multivariate Cox’s proportional hazards models will be used to examine the association between concurrent multiple geriatric syndromes and mortality. We used the SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC)-callable SUDAAN (RTI Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC) for all analyses.

Project ID:PF10207-0388
External Project ID:NSC102-2410-H182-008