title: Geriatric syndromes and incident disability in older women: results from the women's health initiative observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine how the number of geriatric syndromes is associated with incident disability in community-based populations of older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal analysis from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine thousand five hundred forty-four women aged 65 and older enrolled in the WHI-OS and free of disability in activities of daily living (ADLs) at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Geriatric syndromes (high depressive symptoms, dizziness, falls, hearing or visual impairment, osteoporosis, polypharmacy, syncope, sleep disturbance, and urinary incontinence) were self-reported at baseline and 3-year follow-up. Disability was defined as dependence in any ADL and was assessed at baseline and follow-up. Chronic diseases were measured according to a modified Charlson Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Geriatric syndromes were common in this population of women; 76.3% had at least one syndrome at baseline. Greater number of geriatric syndromes at baseline was significantly associated with greater risk of incident ADL disability at follow-up (P ≤ .001). Adjusted risk ratios were 1.21 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.78-1.87) for a single syndrome and 6.64 (95% CI = 4.15-10.62) for five or more syndromes compared with no syndromes. These results were only slightly attenuated after adjustment for number of chronic diseases or pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geriatric syndromes are significantly associated with onset of disability in older women; this association is not simply a result of chronic disease or pain. A better understanding of how these conditions contribute to disablement is needed. Geriatric syndrome assessment should be considered along with chronic disease management in the prevention of disability in older women.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Center for Aging and Population Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Andrea L
authors: AL
authors: Rosso
authors: Charles B
authors: CB
authors: Eaton
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Wallace
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Gold
authors: Marcia L
authors: ML
authors: Stefanick
authors: Judith K
authors: JK
authors: Ockene
authors: J David
authors: JD
authors: Curb
authors: Yvonne L
authors: YL
authors: Michael
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012306:Risk; D013577:Syndrome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health