Lists of geriatric syndromes in the Asian-Pacific geriatric societies

ObjectiveGeriatric syndromes are conditions that are highly prevalent, multifactorial, and associated with substantial morbidity and poor outcomes in the elderly. Geriatricians agree on its definition, but the lists of geriatric syndromes vary based on the purpose. The aim of this article is to attempt to reach a consensus on the list of geriatric syndromes within the Asian-Pacific geriatric societies.MethodsWe surveyed Asian-Pacific expert geriatricians using a questionnaire that asked whether each country's geriatric society recognized the presented items as a geriatric syndrome.ResultsExpert geriatricians from 10 Asian-Pacific nations/regions completed the questionnaire. Dementia, incontinence, delirium, falls, hearing impairment, visual impairment, sarcopenia, malnutrition, and frailty were agreed on as geriatric syndromes by all 10 respondents. Immobility, gait disturbance, and pressure ulcers were included as geriatric syndromes by 90% of the respondents while osteoporosis, failure to thrive, sleep disorder, and functional dependency were included by 80%. Less than 50% of the respondents included self-neglect, anorexia, and emesis as geriatric syndromes.ConclusionsDementia, incontinence, delirium, falls, hearing impairment, visual impairment, sarcopenia, malnutrition, frailty, immobility, gait disturbance, and pressure ulcers were included as geriatric syndromes by at least 90% of the respondents. These lists seem to be consented to be geriatric syndromes in Asian-Pacific geriatric societies. These lists are generally similar to the lists of geriatric syndromes provided by professors from the western world, but with some differences.