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ABSTRACT: Objectives
This study sets out to ascertain if recognition of delirium impacts on patient outcomes.Design
Retrospective cohort study.Setting
Unscheduled admissions to acute care trust/secondary care UK hospitals.Participants
Six hundred and fifty-six older adults aged ≥65 years admitted on 14 September 2018.Measurements
Delirium was ascertained retrospectively from case notes using medical notes. Documented delirium was classified as recognised delirium and retrospectively ascertained delirium was classified as unrecognised delirium.Primary and secondary outcome measures
Primary outcome measure: inpatient mortality.Secondary outcome measures
length of stay, discharge destination.Results
Delirium was present in 21.1% (132/626) of patients at any point during admission. The presence of delirium was associated with increased mortality (HR 2.65, CI 1.40 to 5.01). Recognition of delirium did not significantly impact on outcomes.Conclusions
Delirium is associated with adverse outcomes in hospitalised older adults. However, there is insufficient evidence that recognition of delirium affects outcomes. However, delirium recognition presents an opportunity to discuss a person's overall prognosis and discuss this with the patient and their family. Further research is needed to assess the pathophysiology of delirium to enable development of targeted interventions towards improved outcomes in patients with delirium.
SUBMITTER: Geriatric Medicine Research Collaborative
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8166612 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature