Review and analysis of previous research has associated an increased risk of death, dementia, and institutionalisation to delirium in elderly patients .
"Delirium is a syndrome of acutely altered mental status characterized by inattention and a fluctuating course. With occurrence rates of up to half of older patients postoperatively, and even higher in elderly patients admitted to intensive care units, delirium is the most common complication in hospitalized older people," the authors write.
Diseases Related to Old Age
Ageing is referred to the accumulation of changes that brings a person closer to death.
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"Evidence suggests that delirium is associated with long-term poor outcome but delirium often occurs in individuals with more severe underlying disease."
Joost Witlox, M.Sc., of the Medical Center Alkmaar, the Netherlands, and colleagues conducted an analysis of previous studies to assess the association between delirium and long-term poor outcomes in elderly patients while controlling for important confounders (other factors that can influence outcomes).
![Alzheimers Disease]( "Alzheimers Disease")
Alzheimer''s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.
The researchers identified 51 relevant articles. The primary analyses included only high-quality studies with statistical control for age, sex, comorbid (co-existing) illness or illness severity, and baseline dementia.
The primary analysis showed that delirium was associated with an increased risk of death compared with controls after an average follow-up of 22.7 months.
"The results of this meta-analysis provide evidence that delirium in elderly patients is associated with an increased risk, of death, institutionalization, and dementia, independent of age, sex, comorbid illness or illness severity, and presence of dementia at baseline. Moreover, our stratified models confirm that this association persists when excluding studies that included in-hospital deaths and patients residing in an institution at baseline," the researchers write.
The study has been published in the July 28 issue of JAMA.
Source: ANI
Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimer''s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.
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The researchers identified 51 relevant articles. The primary analyses included only high-quality studies with statistical control for age, sex, comorbid (co-existing) illness or illness severity, and baseline dementia.
The primary analysis showed that delirium was associated with an increased risk of death compared with controls after an average follow-up of 22.7 months.
"The results of this meta-analysis provide evidence that delirium in elderly patients is associated with an increased risk, of death, institutionalization, and dementia, independent of age, sex, comorbid illness or illness severity, and presence of dementia at baseline. Moreover, our stratified models confirm that this association persists when excluding studies that included in-hospital deaths and patients residing in an institution at baseline," the researchers write.
The study has been published in the July 28 issue of JAMA.
Source: ANI
Delirium Accelerates Memory Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Alzheimer's disease patients who develop delirium, a sudden state of severe confusion and disorientation, are significantly more likely to experience rapid cognitive
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 ICU Nurses Require Training to Handle Delirium PatientsA basic educational workshop could be the remedy for ICU nurses who are poor at identifying and handling delirious patients say researchers. | Advertisement
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