Delirium and cognitive impairment among older patients in Norwegian emergency departments. / Delirium og kognitiv svikt blant eldre i norske akuttmottak.
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen
; 139(6)2019 Mar 26.
Article
en Nor, En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30917648
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Delirium is common and underdiagnosed among patients in hospitals, and is associated with complications, increased mortality, onset of dementia and need for nursing home care. Cognitive impairment from other causes is also common among hospitalised elderly people and is a key risk factor for delirium. Since no relevant prevalence studies have been undertaken in Norwegian hospitals, we investigated the prevalence of delirium among elderly patients in Norwegian emergency departments on World Delirium Awareness Day, 14 March 2018. MATERIAL ANDMETHOD:
We included patients ≥ 75 years who arrived in ten Norwegian emergency departments between 0800 and 2200 on that day. We identified delirium and cognitive impairment using the '4AT' screening tool and registered the patients' age and gender and the hospital and department to which they were admitted (internal medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, 'other').RESULTS:
Of 118 included patients, 20 (17 per cent) showed signs of delirium and 36 (30 per cent) showed signs of other forms of cognitive impairment. All hospitals and all categories of departments received patients with signs of delirium and cognitive impairment.INTERPRETATION:
Delirium and other forms of cognitive impairment are both common among elderly patients in Norwegian emergency departments. Our results indicate that all hospital departments who treat elderly patients frequently observe these issues. All departments should therefore have routines to identify and deal with patients who suffer from delirium and cognitive impairment.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Delirio
/
Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital
/
Disfunción Cognitiva
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
/
Nor
Revista:
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article