Prevalence of geriatric syndromes and impact on clinical and functional outcomes in older patients with acute cardiac diseases

Objective To assess the prevalence of major geriatric syndromes (MGSs)-frailty, cognitive impairment, severe dependence and depression-and their influence on outcomes in unselected patients with acute cardiac diseases. Design Observational prospective study with 12-month clinical and functional follow-up. Setting Clinical cardiology unit of a university hospital in Madrid, Spain. Patients Consecutive patients >= 75 years old urgently admitted to the cardiology unit. Intervention Systematic comprehensive geriatric assessment. Main outcome measures 12-month rates of mortality, readmission, functional decline and need for new social help. Results Among the 211 patients studied, 127 (60.2%) presented at least one MGS on admission: 86 frailty (40.8%), 67 cognitive impairment (31.8%), 31 severe dependency (14.7%) and 9 depression (4.3%). Patients with MGSs were slightly older (82 +/- 5 vs 81 +/- 4 years, p=0.02) but did not show greater disease severity or comorbidity. The presence of MGSs was associated with a higher incidence of functional decline during hospitalisation (35.7% vs 8.6%, p=0.002) and higher 12-month age-, comorbidity- and diagnosis-adjusted risks of readmission (OR, 2.1.92; 95% CI 0.98 to 3.7), functional decline (OR, 2.86; 95% CI 1.41 to 5.79) and need for new social help (OR, 3.10; 95% CI 1.45 to 6.60). MGSs were also associated with a higher 12-month mortality rate, which was only obvious in patients hospitalised for heart failure but not for other reasons. Conclusions A majority of older patients hospitalised for acute cardiac conditions in a cardiology department show at least one MGS on admission. MGSs are associated with poorer inhospital and postdischarge functional and clinical outcomes, particularly in patients with heart failure.