Potential for Cognitive Communication Impairment in COVID-19 Survivors: A Call to Action for Speech-Language Pathologists.

Purpose Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the virus resulting in COVID-19 infections in nearly 4.3 million Americans with COVID-19 in the United States as of July 29, 2020, with nearly 150,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands of survivors (https://www.coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html). This tutorial reviews (a) what has been reported about neurological insults in cases of COVID-19 infection, (b) what is known from similar conditions in other disorders, and (c) how that combined information can inform clinical decision making. Method PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for COVID-19 or other coronavirus infections, cognitive impairment observed following critical care, and disorders for which intermittent or chronic hypoxia is characteristic. These were combined with searches relating to cognition, brain, and communication. All searches were conducted between April 8 and May 23, 2020. Meta-analyses and randomized clinical trials addressing other critical illnesses were also included to extend findings to potential cognitive communication outcomes following COVID-19. Results COVID-19 infection results in a combination of (a) respiratory infection with mechanical ventilation secondary to inadequate oxygenation, (b) inflammatory system reactivity, and (c) increased blood clotting factors. These affect central nervous system function incurring long-term cognitive communication impairment in a proportion of survivors. Diagnostic and intervention approaches for such impairments are discussed. Conclusions The existing literature on cognitive sequela of COVID-19 infection is small to date, but much can be learned from similar viral infections and disorders. Although COVID-19 is novel, the speech-language pathology approaches to evaluation and intervention of other populations of critical care patients are applicable. However, speech-language pathologists have not routinely been involved in these patients' acute care. As such, this is a call to action to speech-language pathologists to address the unprecedented numbers of patients who will need their services early in the disease process and throughout recovery.

Long-term outcomes of major abdominal surgery and postoperative delirium after multimodal prehabilitation of older patients.

PURPOSE: The long-term outcomes of surgery followed by delirium after multimodal prehabilitation program are largely unknown. We conducted this study to assess the effects of prehabilitation on 1-year mortality and of postoperative delirium on 1-year mortality and functional outcomes. METHODS: The subjects of this study were patients aged ≥ 70 years who underwent elective surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or colorectal cancer (CRC) between January 2013, and June 2018. A prehabilitation program was implemented in November 2015, which aimed to optimize physical health, nutritional status, factors of frailty and preoperative anemia prior to surgery. The outcomes were assessed as mortality after 6 and 12 months, compared between the two treatment groups; and mortality and functional outcomes, compared between patients with and those without delirium. RESULTS: There were 627 patients (controls N = 360, prehabilitation N = 267) included in this study. Prehabilitation did not reduce mortality after 1 year (HR 1.31 [95% CI 0.75-2.30]; p = 0.34). Delirium was significantly associated with 1-year mortality (HR 4.36 [95% CI 2.45-7.75]; p < 0.001) and with worse functional outcomes after 6 and 12 months (KATZ ADL p = 0.013 and p = 0.004; TUG test p = 0.041 and p = 0.011, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prehabilitation program did not reduce 1-year mortality. Delirium and the burden of comorbidity are both independently associated with an increased risk of 1-year mortality and delirium is associated with worse functional outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Registration, NTR5932. https://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=5932 .

The importance of increased awareness for delirium in elderly patients with rib fractures after blunt chest wall trauma: a retrospective cohort study on risk factors and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Rib fractures are common in ageing people after trauma and delirium is a complication often seen in acutely hospitalized elderly patients. For both conditions, elderly have an increased risk for institutionalization, morbidity, and mortality. This study is the first to investigate risk factors of delirium in elderly patients with rib fractures after trauma. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients ≥65 years admitted with rib fractures after blunt chest wall trauma to the Amphia hospital Breda, the Netherlands, between July 2013 and June 2018. Baseline patient, trauma- and treatment-related characteristics were identified. The main objectives were identification of risk factors of delirium and investigation of the effect of delirium on outcomes after rib fractures. Outcomes were additional complications, length of hospital stay, need for institutionalization and mortality within six months. RESULTS: Forty-seven (24.6%) of 191 patients developed a delirium. Independent risk factors for delirium were increased age, physical impairment (lower KATZ-ADL score), nutritional impairment (higher SNAQ score) and the need for a urinary catheter, with odds ratios of 1.07, 0.78, 1.53 and 8.53 respectively. Overall, more complications were observed in patients with delirium. Median ICU and hospital length of stay were 4 and 7 days respectively, of which the latter was significantly longer for delirious patients (p < 0.001). Significantly more patients with delirium were discharged to a nursing home or rehabilitation institution (p < 0.001). The 6-month mortality in delirious patients was nearly twice as high as in non-delirious patients; however, differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Delirium in elderly patients with rib fractures is a serious and common complication, with a longer hospital stay and a higher risk of institutionalization as a consequence. Increased awareness for delirium is imperative, most importantly in older patients, in physically or nutritionally impaired patients and in patients in need of a urinary catheter.

A multicomponent prehabilitation pathway to reduce the incidence of delirium in elderly patients in need of major abdominal surgery: study protocol for a before-and-after study.

BACKGROUND: Due to the increase in elderly patients who undergo major abdominal surgery there is a subsequent increase in postoperative complications, prolonged hospital stays, health-care costs and mortality rates. Delirium is a frequent and severe complication in the 'frail' elderly patient. Different preoperative approaches have been suggested to decrease incidence of delirium by improving patients' baseline health. Studies implementing these approaches are often heterogeneous, have a small sample and do not provide high-quality or successful strategies. The aim of this study is to prevent postoperative delirium and other complications by implementing a unique multicomponent and multidisciplinary prehabilitation program. METHODS: This is a single-center controlled before-and-after study. Patients aged ≥70 years in need of surgery for colorectal cancer or an abdominal aortic aneurysm are considered eligible. Baseline characteristics (such as factors of frailty, physical condition and nutritional state) are collected prospectively. During 5 weeks prior to surgery, patients will follow a prehabilitation program to optimize overall health, which includes home-based exercises, dietary advice and intravenous iron infusion in case of anaemia. In case of frailty, a geriatrician will perform a comprehensive geriatric assessment and provide additional preoperative interventions when deemed necessary. The primary outcome is incidence of delirium. Secondary outcomes are length of hospital stay, complication rate, institutionalization, 30-day, 6- and 12-month mortality, mental health and quality of life. Results will be compared to a retrospective control group, meeting the same inclusion and exclusion criteria, operated on between January 2013 and October 2015. Inclusion of the prehabilitation cohort started in November 2015; data collection is ongoing. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to investigate the effect of prehabilitation on postoperative delirium. The aim is to provide evidence, based on a large sample size, for a standardized multicomponent strategy to improve patients' preoperative physical and nutritional status in order to prevent postoperative delirium and other complications. A multimodal intervention was implemented, combining physical, nutritional, mental and hematinic optimization. This research involves a large cohort, including patients most at risk for postoperative adverse outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol is retrospectively registered at the Netherlands National Trial Register (NTR) number: NTR5932 . Date of registration: 05-04-2016.

Multiprofessional care for delirium patients in intensive care: integrative review. / Cuidados multiprofissionais para pacientes em delirium em terapia intensiva: revisão integrativa.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the multiprofessional care for the management of critical patients in delirium in the ICU from the evidences found in the literature. METHODS: This integrative review was carried out in the period from February 1 to June 30, 2016 through searches on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL, with the following descriptors: delirium, critical care e intensive care units, which brought up 17 original papers. RESULTS: A bundle and a guideline, two systematic reviews, evidence 1a and four clinical trials, evidence 1b and 2b, cohort and observational studies were found. The multiprofessional care was presented to better understand the diagnosis of delirium, sedation pause, early mobilization, pain, agitation and delirium guidelines, psychomotor agitation, cognitive orientation, sleep promotion, environment and family participation. CONCLUSION: The care for delirium is wide and not specific, which determines its multifactorial aspect.

Schreber e a escrita: transcrição do delírio e seus efeitos de estabilização / Schreber y la escrit: transcripción del delirio y sus efectos de estabilización / Schreber and the writing: transcription of delirium and its effects in stabilization

RESUMO. A partir do paradigmático caso freudiano, baseado no livro de Schreber, o artigo destaca a importância, para o autor, da redação e sobretudo a posterior publicação do seu livro autobiográfico Memórias de um Doente dos Nervos (1905/1984). A ênfase do artigo recairá tanto na atividade de escrita do próprio autor de seu Memórias, incluindo sua repercussão no campo da psicanálise a partir da interpretação de Freud e Lacan, quanto à intenção de Schreber de torná-la pública. Ambos os trabalhos, a atividade de escrita e publicação do livro serão articulados ao conceito de suplência no ensino de Jacques Lacan. A hipótese do presente artigo é a de que tanto a escrita do delírio como a posterior publicação funcionaram como reforços na sua estabilização delirante. A primeira denominada aqui como transcrição do delírio funcionou como apoio à sua imagem pessoal e a segunda referente a tornar pública sua obra funcionou como sustento de seu nome próprio.

RESUMEN. A partir del caso freudiano paradigmático basado en el libro de Schreber, en el artículo se subraya la importancia para el autor, de la redacción y la posterior publicación de su libro auto-biográfico Memorias de un enfermo de nervios (1905/1984). El énfasis del artículo será ubicado tanto en la actividad de escribir del propio autor sus Memorias, agregando ahí la repercusión de esa obra en el campo del psicoanálisis con la interpretación de Freud y Lacan, cuanto la intención de Schreber tornarla pública. Los dos trabajos la actividad de escrita y publicación del libro serán articulados al concepto de suplencia en la enseñanza de Jacques Lacan. La hipótesis del presente artículo es la de que tanto la escrita del delirio como la publicación sirvieron como refuerzos en su estabilización delirante. La primera llamada acá de transcripción del delirio funcionó como apoyo à su imagen personal y la segunda referente a tornar publica su obra funciono como apoyo a su nombre proprio.

ABSTRACT. From the paradigmatic Freudian case based on Schreber's book, the present article highlights the importance, for the author, of the writing and especially the subsequent publication of his auto biographical book Memoirs of My Nervous Illness (1905/1984). The emphasis of this article will be on both the writing activity of the author of his Memoirs, including his repercussion in the field of psychoanalysis from the interpretation in Freud and Lacan, as well as on the intention to make it public. Both works, the activity of writing and publishing the book, will be articulated to the concept of substitution in the teaching of Jacques Lacan. Thus, the hypothesis of this article is that both the writing of delusion and its publication reinforced his delusional stabilization. The former, denominated here as transcription of delirium, worked as support to his personal image while the latter, referring to making his work public, worked as supports for his own name.

Cuidados multiprofissionais para pacientes em delirium em terapia intensiva: revisão integrativa / Cuidados multiprofesionales para pacientes en delirium en la terapia intensiva: revisión integrativa / Multiprofessional care for delirium patients in intensive care: integrative review

Resumo OBJETIVO Descrever os cuidados multiprofissionais para manejo de pacientes críticos em delirium na UTI a partir das evidências encontradas na literatura. MÉTODOS Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa realizada no período de 1º de fevereiro a 30 de junho de 2016 através de busca nas bases de dados PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science e CINAHL com os descritores delirium, critical care e intensive care units que finalizou com 17 estudos originais. RESULTADOS Foram encontrados um bundle e uma diretriz, duas revisões sistemáticas, evidência 1a e quatro ensaios clínicos, evidência 1b e 2b, os demais estudos de coorte e observacionais. Os cuidados multiprofissionais foram apresentados para melhor entendimento em diagnóstico de delirium, pausa de sedação, mobilização precoce, diretrizes para dor, agitação e delirium, agitação psicomotora, orientação cognitiva, promoção do sono, ambiente e participação da família. CONCLUSÃO Os cuidados para delirium são abrangentes e pouco específicos, determinando seu aspecto multifatorial.

Resumen OBJETIVO Se objetivó describir los cuidados multiprofesionales para manejo de pacientes críticos en delirium en la UTI a partir de las evidencias encontradas en la literatura. MÉTODOS Se trata de una revisión integradora realizada en el período del 1 de febrero al 30 de junio de 2016 a través de búsqueda en PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL con descriptores delirium, critical care e intensive care units que finalizó 17 estudios originales. RESULTADOS Fueron encontrados un bundle, una directriz, dos revisiones sistemáticos, evidencia 1a, cuatro ensayos clínicos, evidencia 1b y 2b, los demás estudios de cohorte y observacionales. Los cuidados multiprofesionales fueron presentados para mejor entenderse el diagnóstico de delirium, pausa de sedación, movilización temprana, directrices para dolor, agitación, y delirium, agitación psicomotora, orientación cognitiva, promoción de sueño, ambiente y participación de la familia. CONCLUSIÓN Los cuidados para delirium son más amplio y poco específicos, determinando su aspecto multifactorial.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To describe the multiprofessional care for the management of critical patients in delirium in the ICU from the evidences found in the literature. METHODS This integrative review was carried out in the period from February 1 to June 30, 2016 through searches on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL, with the following descriptors: delirium, critical care e intensive care units, which brought up 17 original papers. RESULTS A bundle and a guideline, two systematic reviews, evidence 1a and four clinical trials, evidence 1b and 2b, cohort and observational studies were found. The multiprofessional care was presented to better understand the diagnosis of delirium, sedation pause, early mobilization, pain, agitation and delirium guidelines, psychomotor agitation, cognitive orientation, sleep promotion, environment and family participation. CONCLUSION The care for delirium is wide and not specific, which determines its multifactorial aspect.

Neurocognitive and Psychiatric Issues Post Cardiac Surgery.

Neurocognitive and psychiatric complications are common following cardiac surgery and impact on patient quality of life, recovery from surgery, participation in rehabilitation and long-term mortality. Postoperative cognitive decline, depressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and neurocognitive impairment related to silent brain infarcts have all been linked to the perioperative period of cardiac surgery, and potentially have serious consequences. The accurate assessment of these conditions, particularly in determining the aetiology, and impact on patients is difficult due to the poorly recognised nature of these complications as well as similarities in presentation with postoperative delirium. This review aims to summarise current understanding surrounding psychiatric disturbances following cardiac surgery including the impact on patient quality of life and long-term outcomes.

Occupational therapy for delirium management in elderly patients without mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Delirium has negative consequences such as increased mortality, hospital expenses and decreased cognitive and functional status. This research aims to determine the impact of occupational therapy intervention in duration, incidence and severity of delirium in elderly patients in the intensive care unit; secondary outcome was to assess functionality at hospital discharge. METHODS: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial of patients without mechanical ventilation for 60 years. Patients were assigned to a control group that received standard strategies of prevention (n=70) or to an experimental group that received standard strategies plus occupational therapy twice a day for 5 days (n=70). Delirium was valued with Confusion Assessment Method and Delirium Rating Scale, and functional outcomes at discharge with Functional Independence Measure, Hand Dynamometer, and Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS: A total of 140 participants were recruited. The experimental group had lower duration (risk incidence ratios, 0.15 [P=.000; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.19] vs 6.6 [P=.000, 95% confidence interval, 5.23-8.3]) and incidence of delirium (3% vs 20%, P=.001), and had higher scores in Motor Functional Independence Measure (59 vs 40 points, P<.0001), cognitive state (MMSE: 28 vs 26 points, P<.05), and grip strength in the dominant hand (26 vs 18 kg, P<.05), compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational therapy is effective in decreasing duration and incidence of delirium in nonventilated elderly patients in the intensive care unit and improved functionality at discharge.

[Algorithms for early mobilization in intensive care units]. / Algorithmen zur Frühmobilisierung auf Intensivstationen.

Immobility of patients in intensive care units (ICU) can lead to long-lasting physical and cognitive decline. During the last few years, bundles for rehabilitation were developed, including early mobilization. The German guideline for positioning therapy and mobilization, in general, recommends the development of ICU-specific protocols. The aim of this narrative review is to provide guidance when developing a best practice protocol in one's own field of work. It is recommended to a) implement early mobilization as part of a bundle, including screening and management of patient's awareness, pain, anxiety, stress, delirium and family's presence, b) develop a traffic-light system of specific in- and exclusion criteria in an interprofessional process, c) use checklists to assess risks and preparation of mobilization, d) use the ICU Mobility Scale for targeting and documentation of mobilization, e) use relative safety criteria for hemodynamic and respiratory changes, and Borg Scale for subjective evaluation, f) document and evaluate systematically mobilization levels, barriers, unwanted safety events and other parameters.

Effect of Cognitively Stimulating Activities on Symptom Management of Delirium Superimposed on Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cognitively stimulating activities would reduce duration and severity of delirium and improve cognitive and physical function to a greater extent than usual care. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Eight post-acute care (PAC) facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling older adults with dementia and delirium (N = 283). INTERVENTION: Research staff provided cognitively stimulating activities daily for up to 30 days. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcomes were delirium duration (Confusion Assessment Method) and delirium severity (Delirium Rating Scale). Secondary outcomes were cognitive function (Digits Forward, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, CLOX) and physical function (Barthel Index). RESULTS: Mean percentage of delirium-free days (intervention: 64.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 59.6-70.1; control: 68.7%, 95% CI = 63.9-73.6; P = .37, Wilcoxon rank sum test) and delirium severity (range 0-39: intervention: 10.77, 95% CI = 10.10-11.45; control: 11.15, 95% CI = 10.50-11.80; difference 0.37, 95% CI = 0.56-1.31, P = .43) were similar in both groups. Significant differences for secondary outcomes favoring intervention were found (executive function (range 0-15): intervention: 6.58, 95% CI = 6.12-7.04; control: 5.89, 95% CI = 5.45-6.33; difference -0.69, 95% CI = 1.33 to -0.06, P = .03; constructional praxis (range 0-15): intervention: 8.84, 95% CI = 8.83-9.34; control: 7.53, 95% CI = 7.04-8.01; difference -1.31, 95% CI = 2.01 to -0.61, P < .001). After adjusting for baseline constructional praxis, the group comparison was no longer significant. Average length of stay was shorter in the intervention (36.09 days) than the control (53.13 days) group (standard error = 0.15, P = .01, negative binomial regression). CONCLUSION: Cognitively stimulating activities did not improve delirium but improved executive function and reduced length of stay. Resolution of delirium may require more-intense nonpharmacological management when the individual has dementia.

Anticholinergic Exposure During Rehabilitation: Cognitive and Physical Function Outcomes in Patients with Delirium Superimposed on Dementia.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between anticholinergic medication exposure and subsequent cognitive and physical function in patients with delirium superimposed on dementia during rehabilitation. We also examined length of stay and discharge disposition by anticholinergic medication exposure. DESIGN: In this secondary analysis we used control group data from an ongoing randomized clinical trial. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Participants with delirium and dementia were enrolled at admission to post-acute care. These 99 participants had a mean age of 86.11 (±6.83) years; 67.6% were women; 98% were Caucasian; and 33% were positive for at least one APOE e4 allele. MEASURES: We obtained daily measures of cognitive and physical function using: Digit Span; memory, orientation and attention items from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment; CLOX; the Confusion Assessment Method; and the Barthel Index. Anticholinergic medication exposure was measured weekly using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale. RESULTS: Using multilevel models for time we found that greater use of clinically relevant anticholinergic medications in the previous week reduced cognitive and physical function, as measured by Digit Span Backwards and the Barthel index, in the current week. There was no effect of anticholinergic medication use on delirium severity, and APOE status did not moderate any outcomes. Greater use of clinically relevant anticholinergic medications was related to longer length of stay but not discharge disposition. CONCLUSIONS: For vulnerable older adults, anticholinergic exposure represents a potentially modifiable risk factor for poor attention, working memory, physical function, and greater length of stay during rehabilitation.

PRospective Observational POLIsh Study on post-stroke delirium (PROPOLIS): methodology of hospital-based cohort study on delirium prevalence, predictors and diagnostic tools.

BACKGROUND: Between 10 % to 48 % of patients develop delirium in acute phase of stroke. Delirium determinants and its association with other neuropsychiatric disturbances in stroke are poorly understood. The wildly accepted predictive model of post-stroke delirium is still lacking. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a prospective, observational, single-center study in patients with acute phase of stroke. We aim to include 750 patients ≥18 years with acute stroke or transient ischemic attack admitted to the stroke unit within 48 hours after stroke onset. The goals of the study are: 1) to determine frequency of delirium and subsyndromal delirium in Polish stroke patients within 7 days after admission to the hospital; 2) to determine factors associated with incidence, severity and duration of delirium and subsyndromal delirium and to create a predictive model for post-stroke delirium; 3) to determine the association between delirium and its cognitive, psychiatric, behavioral and functional short and long-term consequences; 4) to validate scales used for delirium diagnosis in stroke population. Patients will be screened for delirium on daily basis. The diagnosis of delirium will be based on DSM-V criteria. Abbreviated version of Confusion Assessment Method and Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit will be used for delirium and sub-delirium screening. Severity of delirium symptoms will be assessed by Delirium Rating Scale Revised 98 and Cognitive Test for Delirium. Patients who survive will undergo extensive neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric and functional assessment 3 and 12 months after the stroke. DISCUSSION: This study is designed to provide information on clinical manifestation, diagnostic methods and determinants of delirium spectrum disorders in acute stroke phase and their short and long-term consequences. Collected information allow us to create a predictive model for post-stroke delirium.

Improving patient care through the prism of psychology: application of Maslow's hierarchy to sedation, delirium, and early mobility in the intensive care unit.

The intensive care unit (ICU) is not only a place where lives are saved; it is also a site of harm and iatrogenic injury for millions of people treated in this setting globally every year. Increasingly, hospitals admit only the sickest patients, and although the overall number of hospital beds remains stable in the United States, the percentage of that total devoted to ICU beds is rising. These 2 realities engender a demographic imperative to address patient safety in the critical care setting. This article addresses the medical community's resistance to adopting a culture of safety in critical care with regard to issues surrounding sedation, delirium, and early mobility. Although there is currently much research and quality improvement in this area, most of what we know from these data and published guidelines has not become reality in the day-to-day management of ICU patients. This article is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of the literature but rather a framework to rethink our currently outdated culture of critical care by employing Maslow's hierarchy of needs, along with a few novel analogies. Application of Maslow's hierarchy will help propel health care professionals toward comprehensive care of the whole person not merely for survival but toward restoration of pre-illness function of mind, body, and spirit.

The effect of poststroke delirium on short-term outcomes of elderly patients undergoing rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVES: Delirium is a common poststroke complication, but its prevalence and effect in rehabilitation settings is unknown. We retrospectively assessed the prevalence of delirium in elderly patients undergoing poststroke rehabilitation and its association with short-term outcomes. METHODS: All patients (aged ≥65 years) admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation between November 2007 and October 2011 after a recent stroke were screened for delirium. Delirium was diagnosed using the confusion assessment method. Multiple logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between delirium, institutionalization, and inhospital death, while multiple linear regressions were used for the association between delirium and functional recovery, defined in 3 different ways which include (1) measuring the relative functional gain of the Barthel index (BI-RFG); (2) the change in Barthel index (BI) walking subscore from admission to discharge; and (3) the change in Tinetti score from admission to discharge. RESULTS: In all, 58 (33%) patients of the total 176 patients were consecutively admitted to our department with delirium. After adjustment for potential confounders, poststroke delirium (PSD) was an independent predictor of institutionalization (odds ratio [OR] = 7.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.79 to 10.91; P ≤ .0003) and inhospital death (OR = 4.26; 95% CI = 1.15 to 15.81; P = .03); PSD was not a predictor of functional recovery at discharge, neither using the BI-RFG (P = .96) nor using the change from admission to discharge of both the BI walking subscore (P = .57) and the Tinetti score (P = .61) as outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients undergoing poststroke rehabilitation, delirium is an independent predictor of institutionalization and inhospital death, but it does not affect functional recovery.