Abstract

Background: Geriatric conditions (GCs) commonly result from cumulative insults in older adults' aging, disease, and inactivity. However, the interrelations between GCs in the older population are not well understood. Hence, this study investigated the coexistence of GCs and the factors associated with  increased numbers of GCs in older adults.

Methods: Data were collected from the Taiwan Survey of Health and Living Status of Older Adults. Demographic factors, comorbidities, health behaviors, perceived health status, and GCs, namely falls, functional impairment, depressive condition, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence, and underweight,
were collected using questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with increased numbers of GCs. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) models were employed to determine the mutual associations among GCs.

Results: In total, 2,742 participants were enrolled (women: 48%), with 53.3%, 27.1%, and 11.1% having 0, 1, and 2 GCs, respectively. Generalized logistic regression revealed that older age, female sex, institutional residence, living alone, poor and very poor self-perceived health status, and histories of chronic
diseases were significantly associated with higher numbers of GCs. Except for underweight, all the GCs were more likely to coexist and occurred more  frequently in the participants with higher numbers of GCs (≥ 3). The MCA indicated that the ≥ 85 year age group was close to the cluster of most GCs.

Conclusions: Most GCs tend to coexist and occur more frequently in individuals with more GCs and in those aged ≥ 85 years. At-risk older adults should  endeavor to avoid further occurrence of GCs.