Patients’ perspective on Geriatric Syndromes and their Relation with Quality of Life: a cross-sectional Study

Purpose Many older patients suffer from multimorbidity, rendering disease-specific approaches moot. Instead, overarching geriatric syndromes (GS) can be used to describe patients’ experiences above and beyond concrete diagnoses. However, little is known about how patients themselves perceive these GS. Methods We collected self-reported data on N = 511 geriatric in- and N = 155 outpatients on the occurrence of nine GS: reduced mobility, falls, problems with cognition, depressiveness, loneliness, pain, incontinence, problems with sleep, and problems with swallowing. We additionally asked about the perceived restriction and expectations regarding improvement of the GS. Using descriptive statistics, group comparisons and linear regression, we describe patients’ perception of the GS and their association with mental and physical quality of life (QoL) while controlling for cognition, functional status and health. Results On average, patients report 3.4 (SD = 1.8) different GS, while 47.2% reported ≥ 4. The most frequent GS were mobility problems, falls, and pain; these were also perceived as most restrictive in daily life. A higher number of GS significantly reduces mental and physical QoL, above and beyond physical health. For physical QoL, mobility problems, falls, and pain are most influential, while mental QoL is linked with depressiveness, loneliness and sleep problems. These associations were even stronger in out- than in inpatients. Conclusion GS are highly prevalent and lead to reduced mental and physical QoL. As they impact QoL above and beyond physical health and functionality, GS and their association with age-related expectations should be incorporated in clinical care to improve well-being.