Prevalence, correlates and impact of geriatric syndromes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Rapid population ageing has shifted the global disease burden from acute illness toward chronic conditions, multimorbidity, and age-related functional decline. Prevalence estimates for geriatric syndromes vary because populations, care settings, and diagnostic instruments differ across studies. To estimate the community-based pooled prevalence of major geriatric syndromes among older adults and descriptively summarize setting-specific evidence, quality of life, healthcare utilization, and reported correlates. We conducted a PRISMA 2020-guided systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for studies reporting prevalence or association data on geriatric syndromes among older adults aged ≥ 60 years from January 2000 to December 2025. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. In response to substantial clinical heterogeneity, the primary pooled prevalence analysis was restricted to studies of community-dwelling or general-population older adults. Hospital-based, dialysis, cancer, homeless, residential-care, centenarian, and other specialized cohorts were retained in the systematic review but summarized descriptively. Community-based prevalence estimates were pooled using inverse-variance DerSimonian–Laird random-effects models applied to raw proportions. As an alternative-model sensitivity analysis, all five prevalence outcomes were reanalysed using binomial-normal generalized linear mixed models with a logit link. Quality-of-life (QoL), healthcare utilization (HCU), and reported correlates were narratively synthesized because instruments, metrics, adjustment status, and study designs varied. Fifty-seven studies, including more than 118,000 participants, were included. In the community-based pooled analysis, polypharmacy had the highest pooled prevalence at 29.7% (95% CI: 16.1–43.4%), followed by cognitive impairment at 27.1% (95% CI: 21.3–32.9%), depression at 24.5% (95% CI: 20.0–29.0%), frailty at 19.7% (95% CI: 14.3–25.1%), and falls at 13.4% (95% CI: 10.2–16.6%). The alternative GLMM sensitivity analysis yielded broadly comparable estimates and did not materially alter the overall interpretation of the findings. Prediction intervals remained wide for several outcomes, indicating substantial residual heterogeneity even within community-based studies. Specialized clinical and vulnerable cohorts were retained in the systematic review but excluded from the main pooled estimates and summarized descriptively. Reported correlates were not quantitatively pooled because adjustment status, model specifications, and study designs varied. Major geriatric syndromes are common among community-dwelling older adults, although substantial heterogeneity indicates considerable variation across populations and assessment approaches. Restricting the primary synthesis to community and general-population cohorts improved clinical comparability, while specialized clinical and vulnerable populations provided complementary setting-specific evidence. The findings support multidimensional geriatric assessment and a cautious interpretation of reported correlates, given the varied study designs and adjustment approaches. CRD420251116729.