title: Disease burden, comorbidity and geriatric syndromes in the Australian aged care population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the burden of disease in the Australian residential aged care population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of Aged Care Funding Instrument data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dementia (48%), depression (22.5%) and arthritis (14.2%) were the most prevalent chronic diseases in this population. Unclassified conditions such as falls, pain and urinary incontinence were also significant burdens in this population (17.1%). Circulatory, musculoskeletal and unclassified conditions were the most prevalent comorbidities across all common medical groups. Dementia and depression were the most common comorbid mental health conditions across all medical groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The challenges for evaluating clinical care in Australian residential aged care are many. Delivering good clinical care should be a priority for aged care providers given the high burden of chronic disease and comorbidity. An informative starting point could be to target management of the most prevalent and burdensome conditions and comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: QUMPRC, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jodie Belinda
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9269-9397
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hillen
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitry
authors.affiliation: QUMPRC, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Gillian E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Caughey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001315:Australia; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
keywords: chronic disease; comorbidity; funding; health services for the aged; homes for the aged; quality of care