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PubMed2005

Outcomes of older people admitted to postacute facilities with delirium.

OBJECTIVES: To compare outcomes of patients admitted to postacute skilled nursing facilities with delirium, subsyndromal delirium, and no delirium. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Seven skilled nursing facilities that specialize in postacute care within a single metropolitan region. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred four subjects chosen from 1,248 consenting subjects aged 65 and older who underwent mental status testing within 5 days of admission to the participating facilities. Subjects who met full Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) criteria were classified as delirious, those with one or more CAM criteria were classified as having subsyndromal delirium, and those with no CAM features were classified as having no delirium. All subjects with delirium and with available medical records were included. A random subset of subjects with no delirium and subsyndromal delirium with available medical records was included. MEASUREMENTS: The medical records of all subjects underwent a structured review by trained research nurses who were masked to the subjects' initial delirium status. Records were reviewed for the development of new complications within the postacute setting and to determine whether the subjects were discharged within 30 days and, if so, the discharge destination. The National Death Index was used to assess 6-month mortality. RESULTS: Subjects with delirium were more likely to experience one or more complications than subjects with no delirium (73% vs 41%, P < .01). Within 30 days of postacute admission, subjects with delirium were more than twice as likely to be rehospitalized (30% vs 13%), and less than half as likely to be discharged to the community (30% vs 73%) than subjects without delirium (differences P < .01). Subjects with subsyndromal delirium had outcomes intermediate between those with and without delirium. Finally, subjects admitted to the postacute setting with delirium experienced a 6-month mortality rate of 25.0%, compared with 5.7% in subjects admitted without delirium. Subjects with subsyndromal delirium had a 6-month mortality rate of 18.3%. CONCLUSION: Patients admitted to postacute skilled nursing facilities with delirium are more likely to experience complications, rehospitalization, and death than patients without delirium. These findings support the need for improved case finding and management of delirium in postacute care.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors for development of delirium among oncology patients.

To determine the occurrence of delirium in oncology inpatients and to identify and evaluate admission characteristics associated with the development of delirium during inpatient admission, a prospective observational study was conducted of 113 patients with a total of 145 admissions with histological diagnosis of cancer admitted to the oncology unit over a period of ten weeks. At the point of inpatient admission, all patients were assessed for the presence of potential risk factors for development of delirium. During the index admission patients were assessed daily for the presence of delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method. Delirium was confirmed by clinician assessment. Delirium developed in 26 of 145 admissions (18%) and 32 episodes of delirium were recorded with 6 patients having 2 episodes of delirium during the index admission. Delirium occurred on average 3.3 days into the admission. The average duration of an episode of delirium was 2.1 day. Four patients with delirium (15%) died. All other cases of delirium were reversed. Factors significantly associated with development of delirium on multivariate analysis were: advanced age, cognitive impairment, low albumin level, bone metastases, and the presence of hematological malignancy. Hospital inpatient admission was significantly longer in delirium group (mean: 8.8 days vs 4.5 days in nondelirium group, P<.01). Delirium among hospitalized oncology patients is a common condition. Identification of risk factors to delirium at the time of inpatient admission can be used to recognize those patients at the greatest risk and may aid prevention, early detection and treatment.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Association between delirium resolution and functional recovery among newly admitted postacute facility patients.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is common among hospitalized elders and may persist for months. The adverse impact of delirium on independence may increasingly occur in the postacute care (PAC) setting. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between delirium resolution and functional recovery in skilled nursing facilities specializing in PAC. METHODS: Patients were screened for delirium on admission after an acute hospitalization at PAC facilities. Only patients with "Confusion Assessment Method"-defined delirium were enrolled. Delirium and activities of daily living were assessed prehospital, at PAC admission, and at four (2-week, and 1-, 3-, and 6-month) follow-up assessments to measure functional ability. Four distinct delirium resolution groups were created ranging from resolution within 2 weeks without recurrence to no resolution over 6 months. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance was used to determine if functional performance differed over time by delirium resolution status. RESULTS: Among the 393 PAC patients, functional recovery differed significantly (p <.0001) by delirium resolution status. Patients who resolved their delirium by 2 weeks without recurrence regained 100% of their prehospital functional level, whereas patients who never resolved their delirium retained less than 50% of their prehospital functional level. Patients with slower resolving delirium and recurrent delirium had intermediate functional outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Resolution of delirium among PAC patients appears to be a prerequisite for functional recovery. Delirium resolution within 2 weeks without recurrence is associated with excellent functional recovery. Effective strategies to resolve delirium promptly and prevent its recurrence in the PAC setting will likely benefit patient rehabilitation and functional recovery.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

A research algorithm to improve detection of delirium in the intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is a serious and prevalent problem in intensive care units (ICU). The purpose of this study was to develop a research algorithm to enhance detection of delirium in critically ill ICU patients using chart review to complement a validated clinical delirium instrument. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of 178 patients 60 years and older admitted to the Medical ICU. The Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and a validated chart review method for delirium were performed daily. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the chart-based delirium method using the CAM-ICU as the gold standard. We then used an algorithm to detect delirium first using the CAM-ICU ratings, then chart review when the CAM-ICU was unavailable. RESULTS: When using both the CAM-ICU and the chart-based review the prevalence of delirium was 143/178 (80%) patients or 929/1457 (64%) of patient-days. Of these, 292 patient-days were classified as delirium by the CAM-ICU, and the remainder (n=637 patient-days) were classified as delirium by the validated chart review method when the CAM-ICU was missing due to weekends or holidays (404 patient-days), when CAM-ICU was not performed due to stupor or coma (205 patient-days), and when the CAM-ICU was negative (28 patient-days). Sensitivity of the chart-based method was 64% and specificity was 85%. Overall agreement between chart and the CAM-ICU was 72%. CONCLUSIONS: Eight of 10 patients in this cohort study developed delirium in the ICU. Although use of a validated delirium instrument with frequent direct observations is recommended for clinical care, this approach may not always be feasible, especially in a research setting. The algorithm proposed here comprises a more comprehensive method for delirium detection in a research setting taking into account the fluctuation that occurs with delirium, a key component to accurately determining delirium status. Improving delirium detection is of paramount importance first to advance delirium research and, subsequently to enhance clinical care and patient safety.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Nurses' recognition of delirium and its symptoms: comparison of nurse and researcher ratings.

BACKGROUND: Nurses play a key role in recognition of delirium, yet delirium is often unrecognized by nurses. Our goals were to compare nurse ratings for delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method based on routine clinical observations with researcher ratings based on cognitive testing and to identify factors associated with underrecognition by nurses. METHODS: In a prospective study, 797 patients 70 years and older underwent 2721 paired delirium ratings by nurses and researchers. Patient-related factors associated with underrecognition of delirium by nurses were examined. RESULTS: Delirium occurred in 239 (9%) of 2721 observations or 131 (16%) of 797 patients. Nurses identified delirium in only 19% of observations and 31% of patients compared with researchers. Sensitivities of nurses' ratings for delirium and its key features were generally low (15%-31%); however, specificities were high (91%-99%). Nearly all disagreements between nurse and researcher ratings were because of underrecognition of delirium by the nurses. Four independent risk factors for underrecognition by nurses were identified: hypoactive delirium (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.2-12.9), age 80 years and older (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.7-4.7), vision impairment (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-4.0), and dementia (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.7). The risk for underrecognition by nurses increased with the number of risk factors present from 2% (0 risk factors) to 6% (1 risk factor), 15% (2 risk factors), and 44% (3 or 4 risk factors; P(trend)<.001). Patients with 3 or 4 risk factors had a 20-fold risk for underrecognition of delirium by nurses. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses often missed delirium when present, but rarely identified delirium when absent. Recognition of delirium can be enhanced with education of nurses in delirium features, cognitive assessment, and factors associated with poor recognition.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

Delirium predicts 12-month mortality.

BACKGROUND: Delirium has not been found to be a significant predictor of postdischarge mortality, but previous research has methodologic limitations including small sample sizes and inadequate control of confounding. This study aimed to determine the independent effects of presence of delirium, type of delirium (incident vs prevalent), and severity of delirium symptoms on 12-month mortality among older medical inpatients. METHODS: A prospective, observational study of 2 cohorts of medical inpatients was conducted with patients 65 years or older: 243 patients had prevalent or incident delirium, and 118 controls had no delirium. Baseline measures included presence of delirium and/or dementia, severity of delirium symptoms, physical function, comorbidity, and physiological and clinical severity of illness. Mortality during the 12 months after enrollment was analyzed with the Cox proportional hazards model with adjustment for covariates. RESULTS: The unadjusted hazard ratio of delirium with mortality was 3.44 (95% confidence interval, 2.05-5.75); the adjusted hazard ratio was 2.11 (95% confidence interval, 1.18-3.77). The effect of delirium was sustained over the entire 12-month period after adjustment for covariates and was stronger among patients without dementia. Among patients with dementia, there was a weak, nonsignificant effect of delirium on survival. After adjustment for covariates, mortality did not differ between patients with incident and prevalent delirium, but among patients with delirium without dementia, greater severity of delirium symptoms was associated with higher mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium is an independent marker for increased mortality among older medical inpatients during the 12 months after hospital admission. It is a particularly important prognostic marker among patients without dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Does delirium increase hospital stay?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of prevalent and incident delirium on length of hospital stay. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study, comparing (1). length of stay after admission in cases of prevalent delirium versus controls without prevalent delirium with (2). length of stay after diagnosis in cases of incident delirium versus controls matched by day of diagnosis. SETTING: The medical services of a primary, acute care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Medical admissions of patients aged 65 and older from the emergency department with delirium diagnosed during the first week in hospital. Patients admitted to intensive care or oncology and those with a primary diagnosis of stroke were excluded. A sample of those without delirium was also enrolled. MEASUREMENTS: Delirium was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method. Data on length of stay and diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) were abstracted from administrative data. Measures of covariates included the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, the Delirium Index, the instrumental activities of daily living questionnaire from the Older American Resources and Services project, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, the Clinical Severity Scale, and the Acute Physiology Score. RESULTS: The study sample comprised 359 patients: 204 with prevalent delirium, 37 with incident delirium, and 118 without delirium. After controlling for covariates, prevalent delirium was not associated with a significantly longer hospital stay, but incident delirium was associated with an excess stay after diagnosis of 7.78 days (95% confidence interval=3.07, 12.48). Similar results were obtained using log-transformed or DRG-adjusted estimates of length of stay. CONCLUSION: In older medical inpatients, incident but not prevalent delirium is an important predictor of longer hospital stay. Interventions to prevent incident delirium may reduce length of stay.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Predisposing factors for delirium in the surgical intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a sign of deterioration in the homeostasis and physical status of the patient. The objective of our study was to investigate the predisposing factors for delirium in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) setting. METHOD: Between January 1996 and 1997, we screened prospectively 818 patients who were consecutive applicants to the general surgery service of Dicle-University Hospital and had been kept in the ICU for delirium. All patients were hospitalized either for elective or emergency services and were treated either with medication and/or surgery. Suspected cases of delirium were identified during daily interviews. The patients who had changes in the status of consciousness (n = 150) were consulted with an experienced consultation-liaison psychiatrist. The diagnosis of delirium was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (revised third edition) criteria and established through psychiatric interviews. Patients were divided into two groups: the "delirious group" (DG) (n = 90) and the "non-delirious group" (NDG) (n = 728). During delirium, all abnormal findings related to physical conditions, laboratory features, and additional diseases were evaluated as probable risk factors of delirium. RESULTS: Of 818 patients, 386 (47.2%) were male and 432 (52.8%) were female. Delirium developed in 90 of 818 patients (11%). The cases of delirium in the DG were more frequent among male patients (63.3%) than female patients (36.7%) (chi2 = 10.5, P = 0.001). The mean age was 48.9 +/- 18.1 and 38.5 +/- 13.8 years in the DG and NDG, respectively (t = 6.4, P = 0.000). Frequency of delirium is higher in the patients admitted to the Emergency Department (chi2 = 43.6, P = 0.000). The rate of postoperative delirium was 10.9%, but there was no statistical difference related to operations between the DG and NDG (chi2 = 0.13, P = 0.71). The length of stay in the ICU was 10.7 +/- 13.9 and 5.6 +/- 2.9 days in the DG and NDG, respectively (t = 0.11, P = 0.000). The length of stay in hospital was 15.6 +/- 16.5 and 8.1 +/- 2.7 days in the DG and NDG, respectively (t = 11.08, P = 0.000). Logistic regression was used to explore the associations between probable risk factors and delirium. Delirium was not correlated with conditions such as hypertension, hypo/hyperpotassemia, hypernatremia, hypoalbuminemia, hypo/hyperglycemia, cardiac disease, emergency admission, age, length of stay in the ICU, length of stay in hospital, and gender. It was determined that conditions such as respiratory diseases (odds ratio [OR] = 30.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 9.5-98.4), infections (OR = 18.0, 95% CI = 3.5-90.8), fever (OR = 14.3, 95% CI = 4.1-49.3), anemia (OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.6-17.8), hypotension (OR = 19.8, 95% CI = 5.3-74.3), hypocalcemia (OR = 30.9, 95% CI = 5.8-163.2), hyponatremia (OR = 8.2, 95% CI = 2.5-26.4), azotemia (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.4-15.6), elevated liver enzymes (OR = 6.3, 95% CI = 1.2-32.2), hyperamylasemia (OR = 43.4, 95% CI = 4.2-442.7), hyperbilirubinemia (OR = 8.7, 95% CI = 2.0-37.7) and metabolic acidosis (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.1-17.7) were predicting factors for delirium. CONCLUSION: We determined that conditions such as respiratory diseases, infections, fever, anemia, hypotension, hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, azotemia, elevated liver enzymes, hyperamylasemia, hyperbilirubinemia and metabolic acidosis were predicting factors for delirium.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Delirium in mechanically ventilated patients: validity and reliability of the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU).

CONTEXT: Delirium is a common problem in the intensive care unit (ICU). Accurate diagnosis is limited by the difficulty of communicating with mechanically ventilated patients and by lack of a validated delirium instrument for use in the ICU. OBJECTIVES: To validate a delirium assessment instrument that uses standardized nonverbal assessments for mechanically ventilated patients and to determine the occurrence rate of delirium in such patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study testing the Confusion Assessment Method for ICU Patients (CAM-ICU) in the adult medical and coronary ICUs of a US university-based medical center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 111 consecutive patients who were mechanically ventilated were enrolled from February 1, 2000, to July 15, 2000, of whom 96 (86.5%) were evaluable for the development of delirium and 15 (13.5%) were excluded because they remained comatose throughout the investigation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Occurrence rate of delirium and sensitivity, specificity, and interrater reliability of delirium assessments using the CAM-ICU, made daily by 2 critical care study nurses, compared with assessments by delirium experts using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria. RESULTS: A total of 471 daily paired evaluations were completed. Compared with the reference standard for diagnosing delirium, 2 study nurses using the CAM-ICU had sensitivities of 100% and 93%, specificities of 98% and 100%, and high interrater reliability (kappa = 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.99). Interrater reliability measures across subgroup comparisons showed kappa values of 0.92 for those aged 65 years or older, 0.99 for those with suspected dementia, or 0.94 for those with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores at or above the median value of 23 (all P<.001). Comparing sensitivity and specificity between patient subgroups according to age, suspected dementia, or severity of illness showed no significant differences. The mean (SD) CAM-ICU administration time was 2 (1) minutes. Reference standard diagnoses of delirium, stupor, and coma occurred in 25.2%, 21.3%, and 28.5% of all observations, respectively. Delirium occurred in 80 (83.3%) patients during their ICU stay for a mean (SD) of 2.4 (1.6) days. Delirium was even present in 39.5% of alert or easily aroused patient observations by the reference standard and persisted in 10.4% of patients at hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium, a complication not currently monitored in the ICU setting, is extremely common in mechanically ventilated patients. The CAM-ICU appears to be rapid, valid, and reliable for diagnosing delirium in the ICU setting and may be a useful instrument for both clinical and research purposes.

APACHE↗
PubMed2002

Delirium in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is common in patients with malignant disease and is associated with significant morbidity. Studies have not examined the epidemiology of delirium in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, incidence, severity, and duration of delirium in the acute phase of HSCT and to determine the pretransplantation risk factors for the occurrence and severity of delirium during this period. METHODS: Ninety adult patients with malignancies who were admitted to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for their first HSCT were assessed prospectively from 1 week pretransplantation to 30 days posttransplantation. Delirium occurrence using the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) and severity using the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) were assessed three times per week. Pretransplantation risk factors were assessed by patient self-report, charts, and computerized records. RESULTS: The cumulative posttransplantation incidence of delirium events (DRS score > 12) was 66 (73%), and the incidence of delirium episodes (DRS score > 12 for 2 of 3 consecutive assessments) was 45 (50%). The mean +/- standard deviation duration of delirium episodes was 4.8 +/- 2.8 assessments (approximately 10 days). Pretransplantation risk factors for having a delirium episode were lower cognitive functioning (Trailmaking B test [a standardized test of visual conceptual and visuomotor tracking and cognitive flexibility]; P = 0.0008), higher blood urea nitrogen (P = 0.002), higher alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.008), lower physical functioning (SF-12 [self report questionnaire that is a general measure of functioning]; P = 0.03), and higher magnesium (P = 0.03). Pretransplantation risk factors for higher delirium severity scores were higher creatinine (P < 0.0001), the presence of total body irradiation (P = 0.0001), higher magnesium (P = 0.0003), lower Mini-Mental State Examination score (P = 0.002), malignancy diagnosis category (P = 0.002), female gender (P = 0.008), higher alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.02), older age (P = 0.03), and prior alcohol or drug abuse (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Half of patients who undergo HSCT experience a delirium episode during the 4 weeks posttransplantation. Pretransplantation risk factors can assist in identifying patients who are more likely to develop delirium posttransplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Clinical presentation of delirium in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is common in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and is associated with considerable morbidity and excess mortality in diverse patient samples. Although delirium can be treated successfully, it is largely undiagnosed. Understanding the clinical presentation of delirium may help improve the recognition of delirium in these patients. In the current study, the authors investigated the clinical presentation of delirium in HSCT patients, including the time course of these symptoms and comorbid affective distress, fatigue, and pain. METHODS: Ninety patients ages 22-62 years were recruited prior to undergoing their first allogeneic or autologous HSCT. Delirium, distress, and pain symptom assessments were conducted prospectively 3 times per week from pretransplantation through Day 30 posttransplantation. RESULTS: Delirium episodes occurred in 50% of patients and lasted approximately 10 days, with peak severity at the end of the second week posttransplantation. Factor analysis revealed three groups of delirium symptoms representing psychosis-behavior, cognition, and mood-consciousness. Delirium episodes were characterized by rapid onset of psychomotor and sleep-wake cycle disturbance that persisted and cognitive symptoms that continued to worsen throughout much of the episode. Rises in psychosis-behavior and cognitive symptoms predated the start of delirium episodes by approximately 4 days. Affective distress and fatigue were common and appeared to be associated most with psychosis-behavioral delirium symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The results describe in detail the clinical presentation of delirium in patients undergoing HSCT. Affective distress and fatigue commonly were associated with delirium. These findings may aid clinicians in improving the recognition and treatment of delirium in this population and avoiding further morbidity and potential mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Delirium symptoms in post-acute care: prevalent, persistent, and associated with poor functional recovery.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of delirium symptoms at the time of admission to post-acute facilities, the persistence of delirium symptoms in this setting, and the association of delirium symptoms with functional recovery. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Eighty-five post-acute care facilities: 55 rehabilitation hospitals and 30 skilled nursing facilities in 29 states. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred fifty-one consenting patients aged 65 and older newly admitted to participating facilities from acute care hospitals. MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected as part of a field study effort related to the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Basic demographic data, medical comorbidity, delirium symptoms, and functional status--activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)--were obtained from MDS assessments performed within 4 days of admission and again 1 week later by the patient's primary nurse. Six delirium symptoms (easily distracted, periods of altered perception, disorganized speech, periods of restlessness, periods of lethargy, and mental function varies over the course of a day) were assessed after appropriate training. RESULTS: Of the 551 patients (mean age +/- standard deviation 78 +/- 7, 64% women), 126 had delirium symptoms on post-acute admission, for an overall prevalence of 23%. In patients with delirium symptoms on the admission assessment, 1 week later, 14% had completely resolved, 22% had fewer delirium symptoms, 52% had the same number of symptoms, and 12% had more symptoms. Of those with no delirium symptoms on admission, 4% had new symptoms 1 week later. Patients who had the same number of or more delirium symptoms at the second assessment had significantly worse ADL and IADL recovery than those with fewer or resolved delirium symptoms or those with no delirium symptoms at either assessment. Persistent delirium symptoms remained significantly associated with worse ADL and IADL recovery after adjusting for age, comorbidity, dementia, and baseline functional status. CONCLUSIONS: The data from this study provide strong preliminary evidence that, in patients newly admitted to post-acute care facilities from acute care hospitals, delirium symptoms are prevalent, persistent, and associated with poor functional recovery. Educational efforts are warranted to help post-acute facility staff recognize and manage this common and morbid condition.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

Characteristics associated with delirium persistence among newly admitted post-acute facility patients.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is costly, common, and may persist for weeks or months. Therefore, the adverse impact of delirium on loss of independence may occur in the post-acute setting rather than in the hospital. The purpose of this study is to describe the rate of delirium persistence and identify baseline patient characteristics that are associated with delirium persistence at 1 month among newly admitted post-acute facility patients who were admitted with delirium. METHODS: Patients were recruited from 4 Boston area skilled nursing facilities specializing in post-acute care (PAC). Assessment instruments included the Confusion Assessment Method Diagnostic Algorithm, the modified Delirium Symptom Interview, the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), and the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale (BDRS). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify patient characteristics associated with delirium persistence (at 1 month). RESULTS: Nearly 51% of the 85 delirious patients enrolled in this study had delirium at their 1-month follow-up assessment. Four patient factors associated with delirium persistence were identified: older age (> or =85 years), severe delirium at PAC admission (MDAS score >15), prehospital cognitive impairment based on proxy report [BDRS], and the presence of all 8 modified Delirium Symptom Interview symptoms at PAC admission. Our model has very good predictive power (area under the receiver operating characteristic = 0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Delirium is persistent in the post-acute setting. If verified in further research, the risk factors found in this study could be used to identify patients who are likely to have delirium after 1 month, and may prove useful in developing and targeting interventions of care.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Current opinions regarding the importance, diagnosis, and management of delirium in the intensive care unit: a survey of 912 healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVE: Recently published clinical practice guidelines of the Society of Critical Care Medicine recommend monitoring for the presence of delirium in all mechanically ventilated patients because of the potential for adverse outcomes associated with this comorbidity, yet little is known about healthcare professionals' opinions regarding intensive care unit delirium or how they manage this organ dysfunction. The aim of this survey was to assess the medical community's beliefs and practices regarding delirium in the intensive care unit. DESIGN: Survey administration was conducted both without a delirium definition (phase 1) and then with a definition of delirium (phase 2). SETTING: Critical care meetings and continuing medical education/board review courses from October 2001 to July 2002. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of physicians (n = 753), nurses (n = 113), pharmacists (n = 13), physician assistants (n = 12), respiratory care practitioners (n = 8), and others (n = 13). INTERVENTIONS: Survey. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Participants completed 912 of the surveys. The majority (68%) of respondents thought that >25% of adult mechanically ventilated patients experience delirium. Delirium was considered a significant or very serious problem in the intensive care unit by 92% of healthcare professionals, yet underdiagnosis was acknowledged by 78%. Only 40% reported routinely screening for delirium, and only 16% indicated using a specific tool for delirium assessment. Delirium was considered important in the outcome of elderly and young patients by 89% and 60% of the respondents, respectively (p <.0001). The most serious complications these professionals associated with delirium were prolonged mechanical ventilation, self-injury, and respiratory difficulties. Delirium was treated with haloperidol by 66% of the respondents, with lorazepam by 12%, and with atypical antipsychotics by <5%. More than 55% administered haloperidol and lorazepam at daily doses of < or =10 mg, but some used >50 mg/day of either medication. CONCLUSIONS: Most healthcare professionals consider delirium in the intensive care unit a common and serious problem, although few actually monitor for this condition and most admit that it is underdiagnosed. Data from this survey point to a disconnect between the perceived significance of delirium in the intensive care unit and current practices of monitoring and treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Influence of prior cognitive impairment on the severity of delirium symptoms among older patients.

Delirium is common among hospitalized elderly patients with prior cognitive impairment. Detecting delirium superimposed on dementia is a challenge for nurses and doctors. As a result, delirium among demented elderly patients is of increasing interest to healthcare professionals. So far, studies have failed to describe how symptoms of delirium are altered by severity of dementia. This would be valuable information to improve the rate of detection by nurses of delirium among demented patients. However, until now no research has examined the effect of severity of prior cognitive impairment on the severity of delirium symptoms among institutionalized older patients. This study describes the effect of severity of prior cognitive impairment on the severity of delirium symptoms among institutionalized older patients with delirium at the time of their admission to an acute care hospital. One hundred four institutionalized elderly people were included in this study and screened for delirium using the confusion assessment method. Patients with delirium (n = 71) were evaluated with the delirium index to determine the severity of the symptoms of delirium. The results showed that the severity of prior cognitive impairment influences the severity of most of the symptoms of delirium, particularly disordered attention, orientation, thought organization, and memory. Thus, taking into account the severity of prior cognitive impairment could help nurses to detect delirium among older patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Delirium and its motoric subtypes: a study of 614 critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the motoric subtypes of delirium in critically ill patients and compare patients aged 65 and older with a younger cohort. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a tertiary care academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred fourteen MICU patients admitted during a process improvement initiative to monitor levels of sedation and delirium. MEASUREMENTS: MICU nursing staff assessed delirium and level of consciousness in all MICU patients at least once per 12-hour shift using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit and the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale. Delirium episodes were categorized as hypoactive, hyperactive, and mixed type. RESULTS: Delirium was detected in 112 of 156 (71.8%) subjects aged 65 and older and 263 of 458 (57.4%) subjects younger than 65. Mixed type was most common (54.9%), followed by hypoactive delirium (43.5%) and purely hyperactive delirium (1.6%). Patients aged 65 and older experienced hypoactive delirium at a greater rate than younger patients (41.0% vs 21.6%, P<.001) and never experienced hyperactive delirium. Older age was strongly and independently associated with hypoactive delirium (adjusted odds ratio=3.0, 95% confidence interval=1.7-5.3), compared with no delirium in a model that adjusted for other important determinants of delirium including severity of illness, sedative medication use, and ventilation status. CONCLUSION: Older age is a strong predictor of hypoactive delirium in MICU patients, and this motoric subtype of delirium may be missed in the absence of active monitoring.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Intensive care unit delirium is an independent predictor of longer hospital stay: a prospective analysis of 261 non-ventilated patients.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium occurs in most ventilated patients and is independently associated with more deaths, longer stay, and higher cost. Guidelines recommend monitoring of delirium in all intensive care unit (ICU) patients, though few data exist in non-ventilated patients. The study objective was to determine the relationship between delirium and outcomes among non-ventilated ICU patients. METHOD: A prospective cohort investigation of 261 consecutively admitted medical ICU patients not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation during hospitalization at a tertiary-care, university-based hospital between February 2002 and January 2003. ICU nursing staff assessed delirium and level of consciousness at least twice per day using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) and Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). Cox regression with time-varying covariates was used to determine the independent relationship between delirium and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Of 261 patients, 125 (48%) experienced at least one episode of delirium. Patients who experienced delirium were older (mean +/- SD: 56 +/- 18 versus 49 +/- 17 years; p = 0.002) and more severely ill as measured by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores (median 15, interquartile range (IQR) 10-21 versus 11, IQR 6-16; p < 0.001) compared to their non-delirious counterparts. Patients who experienced delirium had a 29% greater risk of remaining in the ICU on any given day (compared to patients who never developed delirium) even after adjusting for age, gender, race, Charlson co-morbidity score, APACHE II score, and coma (hazard ratio (HR) 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-1.69, p = 0.07). Similarly, patients who experienced delirium had a 41% greater risk of remaining in the hospital after adjusting for the same covariates (HR 1.41; 95% CI 1.05-1.89, p = 0.023). Hospital mortality was higher among patients who developed delirium (24/125, 19%) versus patients who never developed delirium (8/135, 6%), p = 0.002; however, time to in-hospital death was not significant the adjusted (HR 1.27; 95% CI 0.55-2.98, p = 0.58). CONCLUSION: Delirium occurred in nearly half of the non-ventilated ICU patients in this cohort. Even after adjustment for relevant covariates, delirium was found to be an independent predictor of longer hospital stay.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence and detection of delirium in elderly emergency department patients.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a complex medical disorder associated with high morbidity and mortality among elderly patients. The goals of our study were to determine the prevalence of delirium in emergency department (ED) patients aged 65 years and over and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a conventional clinical assessment by an ED physician for the detection of delirium in the same population. METHODS: All elderly patients presenting to the ED in a primary acute care, university-affiliated hospital who were triaged to the observation room on a stretcher because of the severity of their illness were screened for delirium by a research psychiatrist using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Confusion Assessment Method. The diagnosis of "delirium" or an equivalent term by the ED physician was determined by 2 methods: completion of a mental status checklist by the ED physician and chart review. The prevalence of delirium and the sensitivity and specificity of the ED physician's clinical assessment were calculated with their 95% confidence intervals. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with detected delirium and those with undetected delirium were compared. RESULTS: A sample of 447 patients was screened. The prevalence of delirium was 9.6% (95% confidence interval 6.9%-12.4%). The sensitivity of the detection of delirium by the ED physician was 35.3% and the specificity, 98.5%. Most patients with delirium had neurologic or pulmonary diseases, and most patients with detected delirium had neurologic diseases. INTERPRETATION: Despite the relatively high prevalence of delirium in elderly ED patients, the sensitivity of a conventional clinical assessment for this condition is low. There is a need to improve the detection of delirium by ED physicians.

Age Factors↗