Implications of comprehensive geriatric assessment and Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution types for integrative geriatric care

Abstract

Background

Complementary medicine may enhance conventional geriatric care, but clinical guidance for incorporating Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the link between TCM body constitutions and comprehensive geriatric assessment scores in older adults.

Method

This prospective observational study recruited 100 participants aged 65 and older between January 2020 and December 2021. Each participant underwent comprehensive geriatric assessments, including the Body Constitution Questionnaire, functional tests, and comprehensive geriatric assessment questionnaires evaluating depression, activities of daily living, nutrition, cognition, comorbidities, frailty, and sensory impairments.

Results

Increasing age, polypharmacy, and impaired Timed Up and Go Test performance were associated with abnormal TCM body constitutions, while sarcopenia was not. Specific geriatric domains significantly linked to abnormal constitutions included impairments in activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental ADLs (IADLs), cognitive function, hearing, sleep, and urinary continence (all p < 0.05). Individuals with more than five affected geriatric domains were more likely to exhibit an abnormal constitution. Logistic regression identified sleep disturbances and dependence in ADLs as potential risk factors for developing an abnormal constitution.

Conclusion

This study elucidates key geriatric syndrome components linked to abnormal TCM constitutions in older adults, including hearing, sleep, continence, functional and cognitive impairments. Multiple affected geriatric domains increased the likelihood of an abnormal constitution. These findings inform holistic TCM-integrated care by identifying areas for targeted interventions to address constitutional abnormalities and promote healthy aging.