A Comparative Evaluation of EASYCare Standard 2010 and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Detecting Geriatric Syndromes in Outpatient Settings

Abstract Introduction: Geriatric syndromes, such as cognitive impairment, depression, falls, and urinary incontinence, increase vulnerability among older adults. In developing healthcare systems, inadequate geriatric training and overburdened outpatient department (OPD) services limit clinicians’ capacity to effectively identify and manage these complex conditions. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of EASYCare Standard 2010 in the assessment of vulnerable older clients in OPD in detecting geriatric syndromes vis-à-vis comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study evaluated 1000 elderly aged 60 years and above seeking care from the OPD of geriatric medicine at a tertiary care center in India. Participants were initially assessed with the EASYCare Standard 2010 instrument. This was followed by an independent, comprehensive assessment by a geriatrician, which included Hindi Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, and fall questionnaire. Four geriatric syndromes – cognitive impairment, depression, falls, and urinary incontinence – were used as index syndromes for this study. Agreement between the two sets of data was analyzed. Results: The mean age of presentation was 71.01 (±5.98) years. Based on EASYCare assessment, cognitive impairment (57.7%) was the most common geriatric syndrome, followed by depression (33.8%), falls (24.7%), and urinary incontinence (11.7%). EASYCare geriatric syndrome assessment showed variable concordance with CGA-significant for falls ( k = 1.00, P < 0.01), urinary incontinence ( k = 0.87, P < 0.01), and depression ( k = 0.51, P < 0.01) and only slight agreement for cognitive impairment ( k = 0.08, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Geriatric syndromes are highly prevalent in Indian outpatient settings. EASYCare effectively identified relevant geriatric syndromes in older patients, supporting its use as a routine screening tool to prevent future disability.