Determinants of geriatric giants among the geriatric population of north India: a community-based cross-sectional study in Kanpur Nagar

Background: The "geriatric giants," or the "5 I's," in geriatrics, refer to common problems in older adults: Immobility, Instability, Incontinence, Intellectual Impairment and Iatrogenesis (other disorders). The present study was done with objective to estimate the prevalence and determinants of geriatric giants among the geriatric population residing in Kanpur Nagar district. Methods: Geriatric people (>60 years) residing for more than 1 year in Kanpur Nagar's urban and rural areas participated in a community-based cross-sectional study. In each area, 256 participants were directly interviewed by using a pre-structured questionnaire for sociodemographic variables and history of morbidities. Microsoft Excel was used to enter and compile the collected data. Data was analysed using the SPSS, trial version 29.0.2.0(20). Results: In this study, intellectual problems were the most prevalent geriatric giant (30%), followed by chronic complications/iatrogenic problems (24%), immobility (21%), incontinence (13%) and instability (12%). Nearly four-fifths of the geriatric had at least one geriatric giant, while 43.2% had more than two, highlighting a substantial burden of cumulative geriatric morbidity. Multivariable logistic regression analysis shows that Geriatric addicted to chewing tobacco, smocking, alcohol shows significant association and higher risk with geriatric giant syndrome. Conclusions: The study highlights the need to integrate routine geriatric screening into primary healthcare under the National Programme for Health Care of the Geriatric. A multidisciplinary team involving geriatricians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and pharmacists can work together to assess fall risk factors, implement preventive measures and promote safe mobility.