Mahshid Foroughan1,2, Ahmad Delbari3,4, Said Ebn Said5, Ahmad Ali AkbariKamrani1, Vahid Rashedi1, Taher Zandi6. 1. Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Huddinge Hospital, R94, Karolinska Institute, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ahmad.delbari@ki.se. 4. Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Huddinge Hospital, R94, Karolinska Institute, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden. ahmad.delbari@ki.se. 5. Ahvaz Petroleum Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. 6. State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recognition of the risk factors of delirium has been clearly advantageous in preventing and managing it as it occurs. AIMS: The main aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence of delirium and identify the associated risk factors in a sample of hospitalized elderly in Southwestern Iran. METHODS: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study was performed on a total of 200 elderly patients, admitted to a general hospital for various health reasons. Data were gathered over a 3-month period of time in 2010. Abbreviated Mental Test score (AMTs) used for delirium detection in post-admission days 1, 3, and 5, followed by clinical diagnostic confirmation according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria for delirium. Information regarding physical, cognitive, emotional, and functional states of the participants was collected, too. RESULTS: Delirium developed in 22 % of the participants. The demographic characteristics of the patients with delirium indicated that they were typically single, older men who lived alone and had a lower level of education and poorer functional status. Among other variables, the following were significantly associated with delirium: hemoglobin ≤12 (P < 0.001); Blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio ≥1/20 (P < 0.005); and positive C-reactive protein (P = 0.022); depressive symptoms (P < 0.001), and previous cognitive decline (P < 0.001). Patients with more than six different categories of medications were at high risk for delirium as well. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium is a serious and common problem in people over 60 years of age who are admitted to hospitals. Understanding risk factors and clinical aspects of delirium in elderly hospitalized patients will provide us with a better delirium management strategy.
BACKGROUND: Recognition of the risk factors of delirium has been clearly advantageous in preventing and managing it as it occurs. AIMS: The main aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence of delirium and identify the associated risk factors in a sample of hospitalized elderly in Southwestern Iran. METHODS: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study was performed on a total of 200 elderly patients, admitted to a general hospital for various health reasons. Data were gathered over a 3-month period of time in 2010. Abbreviated Mental Test score (AMTs) used for delirium detection in post-admission days 1, 3, and 5, followed by clinical diagnostic confirmation according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria for delirium. Information regarding physical, cognitive, emotional, and functional states of the participants was collected, too. RESULTS:Delirium developed in 22 % of the participants. The demographic characteristics of the patients with delirium indicated that they were typically single, older men who lived alone and had a lower level of education and poorer functional status. Among other variables, the following were significantly associated with delirium: hemoglobin ≤12 (P < 0.001); Blood ureanitrogen/creatinine ratio ≥1/20 (P < 0.005); and positive C-reactive protein (P = 0.022); depressive symptoms (P < 0.001), and previous cognitive decline (P < 0.001). Patients with more than six different categories of medications were at high risk for delirium as well. CONCLUSIONS:Delirium is a serious and common problem in people over 60 years of age who are admitted to hospitals. Understanding risk factors and clinical aspects of delirium in elderly hospitalized patients will provide us with a better delirium management strategy.
Authors: Nirit Tzur Efraim; Evgeniya Zikrin; David Shacham; Dori Katz; Evgeni Makulin; Leonid Barski; Lior Zeller; Carmi Bartal; Tamar Freud; Svetlana Lebedinski; Yan Press Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2020-10-19