Former smoking, but not active smoking, is associated with delirium in postoperative ICU patients: a matched case-control study.

Objective: To examine the relationship between current and former smoking and the occurrence of delirium in surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. Methods: We conducted a single center, case-control study involving 244 delirious and 251 non-delirious patients that were admitted to our ICU between 2018 and 2022. Using propensity score analysis, we obtained 115 pairs of delirious and non-delirious patients matched for age and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II). Both groups of patients were further stratified into non-smokers, active smokers and former smokers, and logistic regression was performed to further investigate potential confounders. Results: Our study revealed a significant association between former smoking and the incidence of delirium in ICU patients, both in unmatched (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-2.83) and matched cohorts (OR: 3.0, CI: 1.53-5.89). Active smoking did not demonstrate a significant difference in delirium incidence compared to non-smokers (unmatched OR = 0.98, CI: 0.62-1.53, matched OR = 1.05, CI: 0.55-2.0). Logistic regression analysis of the matched group confirmed former smoking as an independent risk factor for delirium, irrespective of other variables like surgical history (p = 0.010). Notably, also respiratory and vascular surgeries were associated with increased odds of delirium (respiratory: OR: 4.13, CI: 1.73-9.83; vascular: OR: 2.18, CI: 1.03-4.59). Medication analysis showed that while Ketamine and Midazolam usage did not significantly correlate with delirium, Morphine use was linked to a decreased likelihood (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13-0.55). Discussion: Nicotine's complex neuropharmacological impact on the brain is still not fully understood, especially its short-term and long-term implications for critically ill patients. Although our retrospective study cannot establish causality, our findings suggest that smoking may induce structural changes in the brain, potentially heightening the risk of postoperative delirium. Intriguingly, this effect seems to be obscured in active smokers, potentially due to the recognized neuroprotective properties of nicotine. Our results motivate future prospective studies, the results of which hold the potential to substantially impact risk assessment procedures for surgeries.

Tau and delirium superimposed on dementia: A case report.

We present a case involving a 60-year-old man with subacute delirium characterized by challenging attention shifts and obstinate behavior, contrasting with his usual mild-mannered personality. The patient developed pneumonia and a urinary tract infection following the onset of subacute delirium. Despite exhaustive investigations, the cause remained elusive until cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed Tau positivity. Our overview suggests neurodegenerative diseases as the primary cause, rather than infectious or autoimmune factors. The case underscores a significant association between Tau and delirium superimposed on dementia, offering guidance to clinicians managing such patients.

Postoperative neurocognitive disorders in ambulatory surgery: a narrative review.

Postoperative neurocognitive disorders (PoNCDs), such as postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction or decline can occur after surgery, especially in older patients. This significantly affects patient morbidity and surgical outcomes. Among various risk factors, recent studies have shown that preoperative frailty is associated with developing these conditions. Although the mechanisms underlying PoNCDs remain unclear, neuroinflammation appears to play an important role in their development. For the prevention and treatment of PoNCDs, medication modification, a balanced diet, and prehabilitation and rehabilitation programs have been suggested. The risk of developing PoNCDs is thought to be lower in ambulatory patients. However, owing to technological advancements, an increasing number of older and sicker patients are undergoing more complex surgeries and are often not closely monitored after discharge. Therefore, equal attention should be paid to all patient populations. This article presents an overview of PoNCDs and highlights issues of particular interest for ambulatory surgery.

Postoperative cognitive disorders and delirium in gynecologic surgery: Which surgery and anesthetic techniques to use to reduce the risk?

Despite their general good health, an increasing proportion of elderly individuals require surgery due to an increase in average lifespan. However, because of their increased vulnerability, these patients need to be handled carefully to make sure that surgery does not cause more harm than good. Age-related postoperative cognitive disorders (POCD) and postoperative delirium (POD), two serious consequences that are marked by adverse neuropsychologic alterations after surgery, are particularly dangerous for the elderly. In the context of gynecologic procedures, POCD and POD are examined in this narrative review. The main question is how to limit the rates of POCD and POD in older women undergoing gynecologic procedures by maximizing the risk-benefit balance. Three crucial endpoints are considered: (1) surgical procedures to lower the rates of POCD and POD, (2) anesthetic techniques to lessen the occurrence and (3) the identification of individuals at high risk for post-surgery cognitive impairments. Risks associated with laparoscopic gynecologic procedures include the Trendelenburg posture and CO2 exposure during pneumoperitoneum, despite statistical similarities in POD and POCD frequency between laparoscopic and laparotomy techniques. Numerous risk factors are associated with surgical interventions, such as blood loss, length of operation, and position holding, all of which reduce the chance of complications when they are minimized. In order to emphasize the essential role that anesthesia and surgery play in patient care, anesthesiologists are vital in making sure that anesthesia is given as sparingly and quickly as feasible. In addition, people who are genetically predisposed to POCD may be more susceptible to the disorder. The significance of a thorough strategy combining surgical and anesthetic concerns is highlighted in this article, in order to maximize results for senior patients having gynecologic surgery.

Quetiapine Versus Haloperidol in the Management of Hyperactive Delirium: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: In the population of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), most studies compared the use of atypical antipsychotics, such as quetiapine, with the use of traditional haloperidol in patients with delirium of various forms and etiologies. The role of such agents in patients with hyperactive delirium is not fully understood. This study compares the effectiveness of quetiapine with haloperidol in treating the hyperactive form of delirium in terms of their effects on the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R-98), length of stay in the ICU, and mortality in critically ill patients. METHODS: One hundred adult patients diagnosed with hyperactive delirium were randomly assigned to receive either oral quetiapine (25-50 mg/day) or haloperidol (1-2 mg/day). The response, defined as "a DRS-R-98 severity score reduction from baseline of 50% or more" and a DRS-R-98 severity score of 12 or less without relapse, was the primary outcome. RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 68 ± 6 years. The study population's overall response rate was 92%. Response rates for the two groups were remarkably equal (p = 0.609). Secondary outcomes were comparable in both groups, such as ICU mortality (p = 0.496), in-hospital mortality (p = 0.321), in-hospital stay (p = 0.310), and the need for mechanical ventilation (p > 0.99). But the quetiapine group showed a statistically reduced mean ICU stay (10.1 ± 2.0 vs. 11.7 ± 2.6 days, p = 0.018) and increased sleeping hours per night (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Quetiapine may be equally as effective as haloperidol in treating the symptoms of hyperactive delirium in critically ill patients, with no mortality benefit.

A joint frailty model for recurrent and competing terminal events: Application to delirium in the ICU.

Joint models linking longitudinal biomarkers or recurrent event processes with a terminal event, for example, mortality, have been studied extensively. Motivated by studies of recurrent delirium events in patients receiving care in an intensive care unit (ICU), we devise a joint model for a recurrent event process and multiple terminal events. Being discharged alive from the ICU or experiencing mortality may be associated with a patient's hazard of delirium, violating the assumption of independent censoring. Moreover, the direction of the association between the hazards of delirium and mortality may be opposite of the direction of association between the hazards of delirium and ICU discharge. Hence treating either terminal event as independent censoring may bias inferences. We propose a competing joint model that uses a latent frailty to link a patient's recurrent and competing terminal event processes. We fit our model to data from a completed placebo-controlled clinical trial, which studied whether Haloperidol could prevent death and delirium among ICU patients. The clinical trial served as a foundation for a simulation study, in which we evaluate the properties, for example, bias and confidence interval coverage, of the competing joint model. As part of the simulation study, we demonstrate the shortcomings of using a joint model with a recurrent delirium process and a single terminal event to study delirium in the ICU. Lastly, we discuss limitations and possible extensions for the competing joint model. The competing joint model has been added to frailtypack, an R package for fitting an assortment of joint models.

Association between increased systemic immune-inflammation index and postoperative delirium in older intertrochanteric fracture patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), a novel inflammation index derived from the counts of circulating platelets, neutrophils and lymphocytes, has been studied in the treatment of acute cancer and ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the clinical value of the SII in postoperative delirium patients has not been further investigated. The purpose of our research was to study the incidence and preoperative risk factors for postoperative delirium (POD) and verify whether the SII could serve as a potential marker for POD in older intertrochanteric fracture patients. Finally, we created a novel nomogram for predicting POD in older patients with intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: We enrolled elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures who underwent proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) between February 2021 and April 2023. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were subsequently performed to confirm the risk factors and construct a nomogram model.Calibration curve and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the model's fitting performance. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated for discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility. RESULTS: A total of 293 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study, 25.6% (75/293) of whom had POD. The POD patients had higher SII values than the non-POD patients. The SII was strongly correlated with POD in older intertrochanteric fracture patients, and the optimal cutoff value was 752.6 × 109. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, diabetes, total albumin, SII > 752.6 × 109 and a CRP > 20.25 mg/L were independent risk factors for POD patients. By incorporating these 5 factors, the model achieved a concordance index of 0.745 (95% CI, 0.683-0.808) and had a well-fitted calibration curve and good clinical application value. CONCLUSION: The SII is a simple and valuable biomarker for POD, and the new nomogram model can be used to accurately predict the occurrence of POD. They can be utilized in clinical practice to identify those at high risk of POD in older intertrochanteric fracture patients.

Study on the causal relationship between educational attainment and delirium: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

This study aimed to investigate whether there is a causal relationship between educational attainment and delirium at the genetic level using the Mendelian randomization method, and provide new evidence for studies in this field. We found a causal relationship between educational attainment and delirium at the genetic level after excluding confounders using Mendelian randomization. The inverse variance weighting method of random effects was the main analysis method. The weighted median and Mendelian Randomization-Egger methods, as well as simple, and weighted modes were used as supplementary analysis methods. Additionally, horizontal pleiotropy tests were conducted, including the Mendelian Randomization-Egger intercept test and Mendelian Randomization Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier. Cochran's Q statistic was used to assess the size of heterogeneity. We retrieved all second single nucleotide polymorphism features and performed multivariate Mendelian randomization to adjust for the effect of potential confounders on our results. The inverse variance weighting suggested a negative correlation between genetically predicted educational attainment and delirium (0.67[0.49-0.92], p = 0.013); Mendelian Randomization Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (0.67[0.49-0.92], p = 0.013) and multivariate Mendelian randomization (0.52[0.33-0.82], p = 0.005) results were generally consistent with the inverse variance weighting method. The Mendelian Randomization-Egger, simple, and weighted mode results were consistent with the inverse variance weighting results. Our results were not affected by pleiotropy or heterogeneity (p > 0.05, for both pleiotropy and heterogeneity). In addition, the "leave-one-out" analysis showed that the results of our Mendelian randomization analysis were not influenced by individual single nucleotide polymorphisms. Studies have found a causal relationship between educational attainment and delirium at the genetic level; higher educational attainment may be a protective factor against delirium. Clinically, more attention should be paid to patients at a high risk of delirium with low educational attainment.

Antipsychotic Drug Prescription in Pediatric Intensive Care Units: A 10-Year U.S. Retrospective Database Study.

Delirium recognition during pediatric critical illness may result in the prescription of antipsychotic medication. These medications have unclear efficacy and safety. We sought to describe antipsychotic medication use in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) contributing to a U.S. national database. This study is an analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System Database between 2008 and 2018, including children admitted to a PICU aged 0 to 18 years, without prior psychiatric diagnoses. Antipsychotics were given in 16,465 (2.3%) of 706,635 PICU admissions at 30 hospitals. Risperidone (39.6%), quetiapine (22.1%), and haloperidol (20.8%) were the most commonly used medications. Median duration of prescription was 4 days (interquartile range: 2-11 days) for atypical antipsychotics, and haloperidol was used a median of 1 day (1-3 days). Trend analysis showed quetiapine use increased over the study period, whereas use of haloperidol and chlorpromazine (typical antipsychotics) decreased ( p < 0.001). Compared with no antipsychotic administration, use of antipsychotics was associated with comorbidities (81 vs. 65%), mechanical ventilation (57 vs. 36%), longer PICU stay (6 vs. 3 days), and higher mortality (5.7 vs. 2.8%) in univariate analyses. In the multivariable model including demographic and clinical factors, antipsychotic prescription was associated with mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.18). Use of atypical antipsychotics increased over the 10-year period, possibly reflecting increased comfort with their use in pediatric patients. Antipsychotics were more common in patients with comorbidities, mechanical ventilation, and longer PICU stay, and associated with higher mortality in an adjusted model which warrants further study.

The impact of delirium on clinical and functional outcomes in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Delirium, which is prevalent in critical care settings, remains underexplored in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). AIMS: To investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of delirium in patients with ACS admitted to the CICU. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study (n = 106, mean age 74.2 ± 5.7 years) assessed delirium using the confusion assessment method-intensive care unit (CAM-ICU) tool in 21.7% of ACS patients during their CICU stay. Baseline characteristics, geriatric conditions and clinical procedures were compared between delirious and nondelirious patients. The outcomes included in-hospital mortality, 30-day and 6-month mortality, acute adverse events and length of CICU stay and hospital stay (LOS). RESULTS: Delirious patients who were older and had a higher incidence of coronary artery disease underwent more complex procedures (e.g., pacemaker placement). Multivariate analysis identified central venous catheter insertion, urinary catheterization and benzodiazepine use as independent predictors of delirium. Delirium was correlated with prolonged LOS (p < .001) and increased in-hospital, 30-day and 6-month mortality (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Delirium in ACS patients in the CICU extends hospitalization and increases in-hospital, 30-day and 6-month mortality. Early recognition and targeted interventions are crucial for mitigating adverse outcomes in this high-risk population. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study highlights the critical impact of delirium on outcomes in hospitalized patients with ACS in the CICU. Delirium, often overlooked in ACS management, significantly extends hospitalization and increases mortality rates. Nurses and physicians must be vigilant in identifying delirium early, particularly in older ACS patients or those with comorbidities. Recognizing independent predictors such as catheterization and benzodiazepine use allows for targeted interventions to reduce delirium incidence. Integrating routine delirium assessments and preventive strategies into ACS management protocols can improve outcomes, optimize resource utilization and enhance overall patient care in the CICU setting.

[Bedside-teaching on dementia and delirium: Development, implementation, and evaluation in an acute care hospital]. / Bedside-Teaching zum Thema Demenz und Delir.

Bedside-teaching on dementia and delirium: Development, implementation, and evaluation in an acute care hospital Abstract: Background: Demographic change and the accompanying increase in people with dementia and delirium in acute care hospitals pose growing challenges for nurses in acute care wards. Objective: Pilot implementation and evaluation of knowledge gain and implementation of previously defined critical behaviors. Method: Implementation of the training by APNs. Parallel evaluation of the training along the New World Kirkpatrick model using questionnaires and non-participant observation. Analysis of the data using descriptive statistics. Results: The training itself was well evaluated by the participants. It showed an increase in knowledge of the participants in the main topic categories. The targeted critical behaviors were implemented for the most part. There are deficiencies in the mapping of interventions in the nursing care process. Conclusion: The training concept is suitable to give nurses confidence in dealing with people with dementia and delirium. Continuous support in practice is needed to maintain the interventions in the long term and sustainably in everyday life.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Informant Assessment of Geriatric Delirium Scale.

Background and purpose:

Delirium is a common complication developing in el­der­ly patients. Therefore, it is important to diagnose delirium earlier. Family caregivers play an active role in early diagnosis of de­lirium and build a bridge between health pro­fessionals and patients. The purpose of this research was to achieve the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Informant Assessment of Geriatric Delirium Scale (I-AGeD).

This is a methodological study. The sample comprised 125 caregivers ac­cepting to participate in the study and offering care to older patients with hip fracture aged ≥60 years. Data were gathered preoperatively and on postoperative days 0, 1 and 2. After achieving the linguistic and content validity of the scale, the known-groups comparison was used to achieve its construct validity. The ROC curve analysis was made to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the scale. Item-total correlations, item analysis based on the difference between the upper 27% and lower 27%, Kuder–Richardson 20 (KR-20) coefficient and parallel forms reliability with the NEECHAM Confusion Scale were adapted to assess discriminant indices of the items in the I-AGeD.

The item-total correlation coeffi­cients of the scale ranged from 0.54 to 0.89 and KR-20 coefficient ranged from 0.09 to 0.91 depending on the measurement times. According to the ROC curve analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of the scale were ≥ 91% and ≥ 96% respectively. The parallel forms reliability analysis showed a highly significant, strong negative relation at each measurement between the I-AGeD and the NEECHAM Confusion Scale. 

The I-AGeD is valid and reliable to diagnose delirium in older Turkish patients in perioperative processes.

Association of preoperative coronavirus disease 2019 with mortality, respiratory morbidity and extrapulmonary complications after elective, noncardiac surgery: An observational cohort study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of preoperative infection with the contemporary strain of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative mortality, respiratory morbidity and extrapulmonary complications after elective, noncardiac surgery. DESIGN: An ambidirectional observational cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary and teaching hospital in Shanghai, China. PATIENTS: All adult patients (≥ 18 years of age) who underwent elective, noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University from January until March 2023 were screened for eligibility. A total of 2907 patients were included. EXPOSURE: Preoperative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positivity. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative mortality. The secondary outcomes included postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), acute kidney injury (AKI), postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative sleep quality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the risk of postoperative mortality and morbidity imposed by preoperative COVID-19. MAIN RESULTS: The risk of 30-day postoperative mortality was not associated with preoperative COVID-19 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.40, 0.13-1.28, P = 0.123] or operation timing relative to diagnosis. Preoperative COVID-19 did not increase the risk of PPCs (aOR, 95% CI: 0.99, 0.71-1.38, P = 0.944), MINS (aOR, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.22-1.30; P = 0.168), or AKI (aOR, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.10-1.09; P = 0.070) or affect postoperative sleep quality. Patients who underwent surgery within 7 weeks after COVID-19 had increased odds of developing delirium (aOR, 95% CI: 2.26, 1.05-4.86, P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative COVID-19 or timing of surgery relative to diagnosis did not confer any added risk of 30-day postoperative mortality, PPCs, MINS or AKI. However, recent COVID-19 increased the risk of POD. Perioperative brain health should be considered during preoperative risk assessment for COVID-19 survivors.

Novel opportunities for clinical pharmacy research: development of a machine learning model to identify medication related causes of delirium in different patient groups.

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has taken the world of science by storm in 2023. The opportunities of this easy to access technology for clinical pharmacy research are yet to be fully understood. The development of a custom-made large language model (LLM) (DELSTAR) trained on a wide range of internationally recognised scientific publication databases, pharmacovigilance sites and international product characteristics to help identify and summarise medication related information on delirium, as a proof-of-concept model, identified new facilitators and barriers for robust clinical pharmacy practice research. This technology holds great promise for the development of much more comprehensive prescribing guidelines, practice support applications for clinical pharmacy, increased patient and prescribing safety and resultant implications for healthcare costs. The challenge will be to ensure its methodologically robust use and the detailed and transparent verification of its information accuracy.

Assessment and report of individual symptoms in studies of delirium in postoperative populations: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Delirium is most often reported as present or absent. Patients with symptoms falling short of the diagnostic criteria for delirium fall into 'no delirium' or 'control' groups. This binary classification neglects individual symptoms and may be hindering identification of the pathophysiology underlying delirium. This systematic review investigates which individual symptoms of delirium are reported by studies of postoperative delirium in adults. METHODS: Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched on 03 June 2021 and 06 April 2023. Two reviewers independently examined titles and abstracts. Each paper was screened in duplicate and conflicting decisions settled by consensus discussion. Data were extracted, qualitatively synthesised and narratively reported. All included studies were quality assessed. RESULTS: These searches yielded 4,367 results. After title and abstract screening, 694 full-text studies were reviewed, and 62 deemed eligible for inclusion. This review details 11,377 patients including 2,049 patients with delirium. In total, 78 differently described delirium symptoms were reported. The most reported symptoms were inattention (N = 29), disorientation (N = 27), psychomotor agitation/retardation (N = 22), hallucination (N = 22) and memory impairment (N = 18). Notably, psychomotor agitation and hallucinations are not listed in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-5-Text Revision delirium definition. CONCLUSIONS: The 78 symptoms reported in this systematic review cover domains of attention, awareness, disorientation and other cognitive changes. There is a lack of standardisation of terms, and many recorded symptoms are synonyms of each other. This systematic review provides a library of individual delirium symptoms, which may be used to inform future reporting.

Impact of Delirium Onset and Duration on Mortality in Patients With Cancer Admitted to the ICU.

BACKGROUND: Little is known on the effects of delirium onset and duration on outcome in critically ill patients with cancer. OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of delirium onset and duration on intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality and length of stay (LOS) in patients with cancer. METHODS: Of the 915 ICU patients admitted in 2018, 371 were included for analysis after excluding for terminal disease, <24-h ICU stay, lack of active cancer and delirium. Delirium was defined as early if onset was within 2 days of ICU admission, late if onset was on day 3 or later, short if duration was 2 days or less, and long if duration was 3 days or longer. Patients were placed into 4 combination groups: early-short, early-long, late-short, and late-long delirium. Multivariate analysis controlling for sex, age, metastatic disease, and predelirium hospital LOS was performed to determine ICU and hospital mortality and LOS. Exploratory analysis of long-term survival was also performed. Restricted cubic splines were performed to confirm the use of 2 days to distinguish between early versus late onset and short versus long duration. RESULTS: A total of 32.9% (n = 122) patients had early-short, 39.1% (n = 145) early-long, 16.2% (n = 60) late-short, and 11.9% (n = 44) late-long delirium. Late-long delirium was independently associated with increased ICU (OR 4.45, CI 1.92-10.30; P < .001) and hospital (OR 2.91, CI 1.37-6.19; P = .005) mortality and longer ICU (OR 1.97, CI 1.58-2.47; P < .001) LOS compared to early-short delirium. Early delirium had better overall survival at 18 months than late delirium. Long-term survival further improved when delirium duration was 2 days or less. Prediction heatmaps confirm the use of a 2-day cutoff. CONCLUSION: Late delirium, especially with long duration, significantly worsens outcome in ICU patients with cancer and should be considered a harbinger of poor overall condition.

Validation of the Delirium Observation Screening Scale in long-term care facilities in Flanders.

AIM: The aim of this study was to validate the Delirium Observation Screening Scale (DOSS) in a population of long-term care facility (LTCF) residents in Flanders. Currently there is no validated screening tool for delirium available for the population in this setting in Flanders. METHODS: A multisite, cross-sectional study was conducted in six LTCFs. A total of 338 residents aged 65 years and older were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data, including data from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and DOSS, were obtained by three trained nurse researchers. For the DOSS, internal consistency was determined, and inter-rater reliability was calculated. To validate the DOSS, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of the DOSS relative to the CAM were determined through receiver operating characteristic analysis. This article adheres to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies (STROBE) checklist for observational research. RESULTS: For 338 residents, delirium assessments were completed during an early or late shift. The prevalence of delirium was 14.2% as measured with the DOSS. The reliability (α) for the CAM and DOSS was assessed, as was the inter-rater reliability (κ) and the area under the curve. The sensitivity and specificity for a cut-off value of 3 on the DOSS by Youden's index were very high, as was the negative predictive value. The positive predictive value was good. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the DOSS is a reliable and valid instrument to screen for delirium in LTCF residents in Flanders. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

Risk stratification and predictive modeling of postoperative delirium in chronic subdural hematoma.

Background- Postoperative delirium is a common complication associated with the elderly, causing increased morbidity and prolonged hospital stay. However, its risk factors in chronic subdural hematoma patients have not been well studied. Methods- A total of 202 consecutive patients with chronic subdural hematoma at Peking University Third Hospital between January 2018 and January 2023 were enrolled. Various clinical indicators were analyzed to identify independent risk factors for postoperative delirium using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Delirium risk prediction models were developed as a nomogram and a Markov chain. Results- Out of the 202 patients (age, 71 (IQR, 18); female-to-male ratio, 1:2.7) studied, 63 (31.2%) experienced postoperative delirium. Univariate analysis identified age (p < 0.001), gender (p = 0.014), restraint belt use (p < 0.001), electrolyte imbalance (p < 0.001), visual analog scale score (p < 0.001), hematoma thickness (p < 0.001), midline shift (p < 0.001), hematoma side (p = 0.013), hematoma location (p = 0.018), and urinal catheterization (p = 0.028) as significant factors. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the significance of restraint belt use (B = 7.657, p < 0.001), electrolyte imbalance (B = -3.993, p = 0.001), visual analog scale score (B = 2.331, p = 0.016), and midline shift (B = 0.335, p = 0.007). Hematoma thickness and age had no significant impact. Conclusion- Increased midline shift and visual analog scale scores, alongside restraint belt use and electrolyte imbalance elevate delirium risk in chronic subdural hematoma surgery. Our prediction models may offer reference value in this context.

Effects of Exercise Intervention for the Management of Delirium in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Delirium is a serious neuropsychiatric syndrome frequently occurring in hospitalized older adults, for which pharmacological treatments have shown limited effectiveness. Multicomponent physical exercise programs have demonstrated functional benefits; however, the impact of exercise on the course of delirium remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an individualized, multicomponent exercise intervention on the evolution of delirium and patient outcomes. DESIGN: A single-center, single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Medical inpatients with delirium in an acute geriatric unit of a tertiary public hospital. METHODS: Thirty-six patients (mean age 87 years) were recruited and randomized into 2 groups. The control group received usual care and the intervention group received individualized physical exercise (1 daily session) for 3 consecutive days. Primary endpoints were the duration and severity of delirium (4-AT, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale) and change in functional status [Barthel Index, Short Physical Performance Battery, Hierarchical Assessment of Balance and Mobility (HABAM), and handgrip strength]. Secondary endpoints included length of stay, falls, and health outcomes at 1- and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The intervention group showed more functional improvement at discharge (HABAM, P = .015) and follow-up (Barthel, P = .041; Lawton P = .027). Less cognitive decline was observed at 1 and 3 months (Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, P = .017). Exercise seemed to reduce delirium duration by 1 day and contribute to delirium resolution at discharge, although findings did not reach statistical significance. No exercise-related adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings suggest that individualized exercise in acutely hospitalized older patients with delirium is safe, may improve delirium course and help preserve post-hospitalization function and cognition.