What is it about?
Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between cognitive status and incident delirium in 291 geriatric patients from internal medicine wards. Delirium incidence was 11.7%, and 82 patients (28.2%) had cognitive deficits. As cognitive impairment worsened, the risk for delirium increased linearly, and there was a linear relationship between cognitive status severity and delirium severity. Even mild cognitive deficits increase delirium risk and severity.
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Why is it important?
This highlights the high relevance of cognitive impairment as main predisposing factor for delirium.
Perspectives
Our data suggest that older patients should be screened for cognitive impairment upon admission to the hospital and those with cognitive impairment, even if they are not yet delirious, should be recognized for their increased risk for delirium during the hospitalization.
Professor JOSE G FRANCO
Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana
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This page is a summary of: Relationship Between Cognitive Status at Admission and Incident Delirium in Older Medical Inpatients, Journal of Neuropsychiatry, August 2010, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.22.3.329.
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