Fall Risk Factors and Other Geriatric Syndromes in Older Adults With Diabetes: Experience of a Multidisciplinary Fall Consultation.

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of diabetes in patients attending a multidisciplinary consultation for fall risk assessment and to compare fall risk factors and the prevalence of other geriatric syndromes in patients with and without diabetes. Materials and Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Lille University Hospital Geriatrics Department, France. Inclusion criteria were any patients aged 65 years and over consulting for fall risk assessment between January 2, 2005, and January 2, 2015. A comprehensive multidisciplinary clinical evaluation was carried out to establish a personalized assessment of the patient's risk of falling. Results:One thousand five hundred and twenty patients were included. Mean age was 81.4 ± 6.4 years; 72.2% were female, and 20% had diabetes. While patients with diabetes were younger than patients without diabetes (mean age: 79.4 ± 6.1 years vs. 81.9 ± 6.4 years, p < 0.001), they were more likely to have had at least two falls in the previous 6 months (65.5% vs. 56.2%; p = 0.004), had more balance and gait disorders (respectively, 77.4% vs. 69.7%, p = 0.009, and 88% vs. 82%, p = 0.012), and had more cognitive decline, urinary disorders, functional dependency, and polypharmacy than patients without diabetes (p < 0.0001 for all). Conclusions: Patients with diabetes have more geriatric syndromes and comorbidities, leading to a higher risk of adverse events compared to patients without diabetes even if they are younger. Preventing falls and other geriatric syndromes should therefore be a concern for all healthcare professionals who care for people with diabetes.