Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Geriatric Syndromes in People Aged 75 Years and Older in France: Results From the Bordeaux Three-city Study

BACKGROUND: Geriatric syndromes (GSs) are often the result of cumulative insults to multiple organ systems and are considered common in older adults. However, their frequency and co-occurrence are not well known in the elderly population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of several GSs and to analyze the co-occurrence of these syndromes in a general population of elderly individuals. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of 630 adults aged 75 years or older participating in the 10-year follow-up of the Bordeaux sample of the French Three-City Study was conducted. The following 10 GSs were assessed: physical frailty, dementia and cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, polymedication, social isolation, thinness, falls, dependence, sensory deficit, and incontinence. The prevalence of the 10 GSs was estimated, and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) models were used to explore the mutual associations between these GSs. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 83.3 years; 69% were women, and 80.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 76.3–82.7] had at least one GS. The most frequent GSs were polymedication (50.6% 95%CI = 46.7–54.5) and falls (43.1% 95%CI = 38.4–46.1). The MCA models identified two major dimensions of the 10 GSs: “Dementia–Dependence–Incontinence” and “Frailty–Depression–Isolation.” CONCLUSION: GSs were very common in this French elderly population and were grouped into two major dimensions: the “Dementia–Dependence–Incontinence” and “Frailty–Depression–Isolation.