posted on 2018-10-26, 15:16authored byChantal J. Slor, Joost Witlox, Dimitrios Adamis, DAVID MEAGHERDAVID MEAGHER, Tjeerd van der Ploeg, Rene W.M.M. Jansen, Mireille F.M. van Stijn, Alexander P.J. Houdijk, Willem A. van Gool, Piet Eikelenboom, Jos F.M. de Jonghe
Background. Features thatmay allow early identification of patients at risk of prolonged delirium, and therefore of poorer outcomes,
are not well understood.The aim of this study was to determine if preoperative delirium risk factors and delirium symptoms (at
onset and clinical symptomatology during the course of delirium) are associated with delirium duration. Methods. This study was
conducted in prospectively identified cases of incident delirium.We compared patients experiencing delirium of short duration (1
or 2 days) with patients who had more prolonged delirium (≥3 days) with regard to DRS-R-98 (Delirium Rating Scale Revised-
98) symptoms on the first delirious day. Delirium symptom profile was evaluated daily during the delirium course. Results. In a
homogenous population of 51 elderly hip-surgery patients, we found that the severity of individual delirium symptoms on the first
day of deliriumwas not associated with duration of delirium. Preexisting cognitive decline was associated with prolonged delirium.
Longitudinal analysis using the generalised estimating equations method (GEE) identified that more severe impairment of longtermmemory
across the whole deliriumepisode was associated with longer duration of delirium. Conclusion. Preexisting cognitive
decline rather than severity of individual delirium symptoms at onset is strongly associated with delirium duration.
History
Publication
Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research;article ID 962321