Clinical and Epidemiological Approach to Delirium in an Acute Care Unit: A Cross-Sectional Study

Pablo Jorge-Samitier, Raúl Juárez-Vela, Iván Santolalla-Arnedo, Ana Cobos-Rincón, José Ángel Santos-Sánchez, Vicente Gea-Caballero, Pedro José Satústegui-Dorda, Ana Anguas-Gracia, Clara Isabel Tejada-Garrido, Fernando Urcola-Pardo and María Teresa Fernández-Rodrigo
Additional contact information
Pablo Jorge-Samitier: Hospital Clínico Lozano Blesa, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Raúl Juárez-Vela: GRUPAC, Department in Nursing, University of La Rioja, C/Duquesa de la Victoria 88, 26004 Logroño, Spain
Iván Santolalla-Arnedo: GRUPAC, Department in Nursing, University of La Rioja, C/Duquesa de la Victoria 88, 26004 Logroño, Spain
Ana Cobos-Rincón: GRUPAC, Department in Nursing, University of La Rioja, C/Duquesa de la Victoria 88, 26004 Logroño, Spain
José Ángel Santos-Sánchez: Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Vicente Gea-Caballero: Community Health and Care Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencia International University, 46003 Valencia, Spain
Pedro José Satústegui-Dorda: Research Group Water and Environmental Health (B43_20R), Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Calle Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Ana Anguas-Gracia: Research Group Water and Environmental Health (B43_20R), Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Calle Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Clara Isabel Tejada-Garrido: GRUPAC, Department in Nursing, University of La Rioja, C/Duquesa de la Victoria 88, 26004 Logroño, Spain
Fernando Urcola-Pardo: Research Group Water and Environmental Health (B43_20R), Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Calle Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
María Teresa Fernández-Rodrigo: Research Group Water and Environmental Health (B43_20R), Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Calle Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-11

Abstract: During hospital admissions, the union of various factors, those related to acute pathology, dependency conditions, cognitive impairment, change of habitual environment, and others, can cause delirium. Acute delirium in the elderly (ADE) occurs in around a third of patients over 70 years of age. The syndrome generates serious complications that increase hospital morbidity and mortality and a high cost for the health administration. This study aimed to determine the clinical and epidemiological profile of ADE in an internal medicine unit. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a convenience test. A total of 356 patients participated between September and November 2021. Sociodemographic variables, predisposing and precipitating factors of ADE, methods of action against ADE, and the impact on functional and cognitive deterioration were analyzed. A total of 35.1% of the patients developed ADE, mostly of the hyperactive type and of nocturnal appearance. ADE was mainly treated with psychoactive drugs and 22% required mechanical restraint, with non-pharmacological preventive strategies, support, and caregiver training being the main tools for controlling ADE during hospital admission.

Keywords: delirium; aged; confusion; mental health; hospitalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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