title: Multimorbidity Patterns in Hospitalized Older Patients: Associations among Chronic Diseases and Geriatric Syndromes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The clinical status of older individuals with multimorbidity can be further complicated by concomitant geriatric syndromes. This study explores multimorbidity patterns, encompassing both chronic diseases and geriatric syndromes, in geriatric patients attended in an acute hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unit of Social and Clinical Assessment (UVSS), Miguel Servet University Hospital (HUMS), Zaragoza (Spain). Year, 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 924 hospitalized patients aged 65 years or older.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on patients' clinical, functional, cognitive and social statuses were gathered through comprehensive geriatric assessments. To identify diseases and/or geriatric syndromes that cluster into patterns, an exploratory factor analysis was applied, stratifying by sex. The factors can be interpreted as multimorbidity patterns, i.e., diseases non-randomly associated with each other within the study population. The resulting patterns were clinically assessed by several physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study population was 82.1 years (SD 7.2). Multimorbidity burden was lower in men under 80 years, but increased in those over 80. Immobility, urinary incontinence, hypertension, falls, dementia, cognitive decline, diabetes and arrhythmia were among the 10 most frequent health problems in both sexes, with prevalence rates above 20%. Four multimorbidity patterns were identified that were present in both sexes: Cardiovascular, Induced Dependency, Falls and Osteoarticular. The number of conditions comprising these patterns was similar in men and women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The existence of specific multimorbidity patterns in geriatric patients, such as the Induced Dependency and Falls patterns, may facilitate the early detection of vulnerability to stressors, thus helping to avoid negative health outcomes such as functional disability.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Social and Clinical Assessment (UVSS), Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain; EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragon Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerencia-Sierra
authors.affiliation: EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragon Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain; Research Network for Health Services in Chronic Diseases (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Amaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calderón-Larrañaga
authors.affiliation: Research Network for Health Services in Chronic Diseases (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain; Geriatric Service, Hospital Complex of Navarra, Navarra Health Service-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martínez-Velilla
authors.affiliation: Research Network for Health Services in Chronic Diseases (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain; Research Unit AP-OSIS Gipuzkoa, IIS Biodonostia, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vergara-Mitxeltorena
authors.affiliation: San Juan Health Center, Navarra Health Service-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aldaz-Herce
authors.affiliation: EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragon Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain; Research Network for Health Services in Chronic Diseases (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poblador-Plou
authors.affiliation: Research Network for Health Services in Chronic Diseases (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain; Research Unit AP-OSIS Gipuzkoa, IIS Biodonostia, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machón-Sobrado
authors.affiliation: Research Unit AP-OSIS Gipuzkoa, IIS Biodonostia, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Egüés-Olazabal
authors.affiliation: Frailty Day-Hospital, Gérontopôle de Toulouse, Department of Geriatric Medicine, CHU de Toulouse-Purpan, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abellán-van Kan
authors.affiliation: EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragon Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain; Research Network for Health Services in Chronic Diseases (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prados-Torres
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013577:Syndrome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology