Assessment of physical and mental disorders in dependence of the age based on geriatric screening

Abstract

The multidimensional specific disorders search in elderly patients is determined by their complex clinical profile due to multimorbidity, polypharmacy, functional decline and geriatric syndromes. The purpose of this research was to assess the frequency of symptoms of physical and mental disorders in dependence of age in multimorbidity elderly patients based on self-survey. 398 patients aged 50-89 were interviewed using the original "Geriatric Assessment" questionnaire. The answers to questions concerning physical and mental state, sensory deficits and chronic pain were analyzed in four groups divided by age decades. The majority of symptoms associated with geriatric syndromes increase with age excluding anxiety and shortness of breath. The frequency of symptoms increases quantitatively in different ways: registration of inability to climb stairs and weakness enlarge most significantly (more than 12 times). The total score reflecting the burden of quantity and severity of symptoms increased most pronouncedly in the group of 80-89 years compared to the group of 70-79 years. Heterogeneity in total scores is most pronounced in the age groups 50-59 years and 80-89 years. The age-related increase in the frequency of symptoms associated with geriatric syndromes demonstrates differences that are determined by the specificity of the symptom declared. Keywords: elderly; geriatric syndromes; geriatric screening mental health; physical status