Effect of the clinical decision assessment system on clinical outcomes of delirium in hospitalized older adults: study protocol for a pair-matched, parallel, cluster randomized controlled superiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Prompt recognition of delirium is the first key step in its proper management. A previous study has demonstrated that nurses' delirium screening using the usual paper version assessment tool has no effect on clinical outcomes. Clinical decision assessment systems have been demonstrated to improve patients' adherence and clinical outcomes. Therefore, We developed a clinical decision assessment system (3D-DST) based on the usual paper version (3-min diagnostic interview for CAM-defined delirium), which was developed for assessing delirium in older adults with high usability and accuracy. However, no high quality evidence exists on the effectiveness of a 3D-DST in improving outcomes of older adults compared to the usual paper version. METHODS: A pair-matched, open-label, parallel, cluster randomized controlled superiority trial following the SPIRIT checklist. Older patients aged 65 years or older admitted to four medical wards of a geriatric hospital will be invited to participate in the study. Prior to the study, delirium prevention and treatment interventions will be delivered to nurses in both the intervention and control groups. The nurses in the intervention group will perform routine delirium assessments on the included older patients with 3D-DST, while the nurses in the control group will perform daily delirium assessments with the usual paper version. Enrolled patients will be assessed twice daily for delirium by a nurse researcher using 3D-DST. The primary outcome is delirium duration. The secondary outcomes are delirium severity, incidence of delirium, length of stay, in-hospital mortality, adherence to delirium assessment, prevention, and treatment of medical staff. DISCUSSION: This study will incorporate the 3D-DST into clinical practice for delirium assessment. If our study will demonstrate that 3D-DST will improve adherence with delirium assessment and clinical outcomes in older patients, it will provide important evidence for the management of delirium in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, Identifier: ChiCTR1900028402. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=47127 . PROTOCOL VERSION: 1, 29/7/22.

Incidence and associations of hospital delirium diagnoses in 85,979 people with severe mental illness: A data linkage study.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is an acute neuro-psychiatric disturbance precipitated by a range of physical stressors, with high morbidity and mortality. Little is known about its relationship with severe mental illness (SMI). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked data analyses of the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) databases. We ascertained yearly hospital delirium incidence from 2000 to 2017 and used logistic regression to identify associations with delirium diagnosis in a population with SMI. RESULTS: The cohort included 249,047 people with SMI with median follow-up time in CPRD of 6.4 years. A total of 85,979 patients were eligible for linkage to HES. Delirium incidence increased from 0.04 (95% CI 0.02-0.07) delirium associated admissions per 100 person-years in 2000 to 1.05 (95% CI 0.93-1.17) per 100 person-years in 2017, increasing most notably from 2010 onwards. Delirium was associated with older age at study entry (OR 1.05 per year, 95% CI 1.05-1.06), SMI diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.44-1.93) or other psychosis (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.35-1.80) relative to schizophrenia, and more physical comorbidities (OR 1.08 per additional comorbidity of the Charlson Comorbidity Index, 95% CI 1.02-1.14). Patients with delirium received more antipsychotic medication during follow-up (1-2 antipsychotics OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.44-1.90; >2 antipsychotics OR 2.49, 95% CI 2.12-2.92). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of recorded delirium diagnoses in people with SMI has increased in recent years. Older people prescribed more antipsychotics and with more comorbidities have a higher incidence. Linked electronic health records are feasible for exploring hospital diagnoses such as delirium in SMI.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on surgery for type A acute aortic dissection outcome.

No study has evaluated the effect of dexmedetomidine in patients who received surgery for type A aortic dissection. This is the first study to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine in aortic dissection patients. This study was executed using data from the Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan. The CGRD contains the multi-institutional standardized electronic medical records from seven Chang Gung Memorial hospitals, the largest medical system in Taiwan. We retrospectively evaluate patients who received surgery for acute type A aortic dissection between January 2014 and December 2018. Overall, 511 patients were included, of whom 104 has received dexmedetomidine infusion in the postoperative period. One-to-two propensity score-matching yielded 86 cases in the dexmedetomidine group and 158 cases in the non-dexmedetomidine group. The in-hospital mortality and composite outcome including all-cause mortality, acute kidney injury, delirium, postoperative atrial fibrillation, and respiratory failure, were considered primary outcomes. The in-hospital mortality and composite outcome were similar between groups. The risk of Acute Kidney Injury Network stage 3 acute kidney injury was significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the non-dexmedetomidine group (8.1% vs 19.0%; OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.17-0.86; p = 0.020. The risk of newly-onset dialysis was also significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the non-dexmedetomidine group (4.7% vs 13.3%; OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.90; p = 0.031). Post-operative dexmedetomidine infusion significantly reduced the rate of severe acute kidney injury and newly-onset dialysis in patients who received surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

Delirium definition influences prediction of functional survival in patients one-year postcardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Delirium after cardiac surgery is associated with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay and elevated rates of mortality. The Society of Thoracic Surgery National Database (STS-ND) includes delirium in routine data collection but restricts its definition to hyperactive symptoms. The objective is to determine whether the Confusion Assessment Method for ICU (CAM-ICU), which includes hypo- and hyperactive symptoms, is associated with improved prediction of poor 1-year functional survival following cardiac surgery. METHODS: Clinical and administrative databases were used to determine the influence of postoperative delirium on 1-year poor functional survival, defined as being institutionalized or deceased at 1 year. Patients experiencing postoperative delirium using the STS-ND definition (2007-2009) were compared with patients with delirium identified by the CAM-ICU (2010-2012). A propensity score match was undertaken, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were generated to determine risk of poor 1-year functional survival. RESULTS: There were 2756 and 2236 patients in the STS-ND and CAM-ICU cohorts, respectively. Propensity matching resulted in a cohort of 1835 patients (82.1% matched). The overall rate of delirium in the matched study population was 7.6% in the STS-ND cohort and 13.0% in the CAM-ICU cohort (P < .001). Delirium in the CAM-ICU cohort was independently associated with poor 1-year functional survival (hazard ratio, 2.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-5.54; P = .02); delirium in the STS-ND cohort was not associated with poor 1-year functional survival (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-1.71; P = .79). CONCLUSIONS: A systematic screening tool identifies postoperative delirium with improved prediction of poor 1-year functional survival following cardiac surgery.

ICU delirium burden predicts functional neurologic outcomes.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of delirium burden in mechanically ventilated patients, beginning in the ICU and continuing throughout hospitalization, on functional neurologic outcomes up to 2.5 years following critical illness. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of enrolling 178 consecutive mechanically ventilated adult medical and surgical ICU patients between October 2013 and May 2016. Altogether, patients were assessed daily for delirium 2941days using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU). Hospitalization delirium burden (DB) was quantified as number of hospital days with delirium divided by total days at risk. Survival status up to 2.5 years and neurologic outcomes using the Glasgow Outcome Scale were recorded at discharge 3, 6, and 12 months post-discharge. RESULTS: Of 178 patients, 19 (10.7%) were excluded from outcome analyses due to persistent coma. Among the remaining 159, 123 (77.4%) experienced delirium. DB was independently associated with >4-fold increased mortality at 2.5 years following ICU admission (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.77; 95% CI, 2.10-10.83; P < .001), and worse neurologic outcome at discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.02; 0.01-0.09; P < .001), 3 (aOR, 0.11; 0.04-0.31; P < .001), 6 (aOR, 0.10; 0.04-0.29; P < .001), and 12 months (aOR, 0.19; 0.07-0.52; P = .001). DB in the ICU alone was not associated with mortality (HR, 1.79; 0.93-3.44; P = .082) and predicted neurologic outcome less strongly than entire hospital stay DB. Similarly, the number of delirium days in the ICU and for whole hospitalization were not associated with mortality (HR, 1.00; 0.93-1.08; P = .917 and HR, 0.98; 0.94-1.03, P = .535) nor with neurological outcomes, except for the association between ICU delirium days and neurological outcome at discharge (OR, 0.90; 0.81-0.99, P = .038). CONCLUSIONS: Delirium burden throughout hospitalization independently predicts long term neurologic outcomes and death up to 2.5 years after critical illness, and is more predictive than delirium burden in the ICU alone and number of delirium days.

Frequency of Neurologic Manifestations in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One year after the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we aimed to summarize the frequency of neurologic manifestations reported in patients with COVID-19 and to investigate the association of these manifestations with disease severity and mortality. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Medline, Cochrane library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and EMBASE for studies from December 31, 2019, to December 15, 2020, enrolling consecutive patients with COVID-19 presenting with neurologic manifestations. Risk of bias was examined with the Joanna Briggs Institute scale. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed, and pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for neurologic manifestations. Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated to determine the association of neurologic manifestations with disease severity and mortality. Presence of heterogeneity was assessed with I 2, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses. Statistical analyses were conducted in R version 3.6.2. RESULTS: Of 2,455 citations, 350 studies were included in this review, providing data on 145,721 patients with COVID-19, 89% of whom were hospitalized. Forty-one neurologic manifestations (24 symptoms and 17 diagnoses) were identified. Pooled prevalence of the most common neurologic symptoms included fatigue (32%), myalgia (20%), taste impairment (21%), smell impairment (19%), and headache (13%). A low risk of bias was observed in 85% of studies; studies with higher risk of bias yielded higher prevalence estimates. Stroke was the most common neurologic diagnosis (pooled prevalence 2%). In patients with COVID-19 ≥60 years of age, the pooled prevalence of acute confusion/delirium was 34%, and the presence of any neurologic manifestations in this age group was associated with mortality (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11-2.91). DISCUSSION: Up to one-third of patients with COVID-19 analyzed in this review experienced at least 1 neurologic manifestation. One in 50 patients experienced stroke. In those >60 years of age, more than one-third had acute confusion/delirium; the presence of neurologic manifestations in this group was associated with nearly a doubling of mortality. Results must be interpreted with the limitations of observational studies and associated bias in mind. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020181867.

Outcome, demography and resource utilization in ICU Patients with delirium and malignancy.

Delirium in the general intensive care unit (ICU) population is common, associated with adverse outcomes and well studied. However, knowledge on delirium in the increasing number of ICU patients with malignancy is scarce. The aim was to assess the frequency of delirium and its impact on resource utilizations and outcomes in ICU patients with malignancy. This retrospective, single-center longitudinal cohort study included all patients with malignancy admitted to ICUs of a University Hospital during one year. Delirium was diagnosed by an Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) score ≥ 4. Of 488 ICU patients with malignancy, 176/488 (36%) developed delirium. Delirious patients were older (66 [55-72] vs. 61 [51-69] years, p = 0.001), had higher SAPS II (41 [27-68] vs. 24 [17-32], p < 0.001) and more frequently sepsis (26/176 [15%] vs. 6/312 [1.9%], p < 0.001) and/or shock (30/176 [6.1%] vs. 6/312 [1.9%], p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, delirium was independently associated with lower discharge home (OR [95% CI] 0.37 [0.24-0.57], p < 0.001), longer ICU (HR [95% CI] 0.30 [0.23-0.37], p < 0.001) and hospital length of stay (HR [95% CI] 0.62 [0.50-0.77], p < 0.001), longer mechanical ventilation (HR [95% CI] 0.40 [0.28-0.57], p < 0.001), higher ICU nursing workload (B [95% CI] 1.92 [1.67-2.21], p < 0.001) and ICU (B [95% CI] 2.08 [1.81-2.38], p < 0.001) and total costs (B [95% CI] 1.44 [1.30-1.60], p < 0.001). However, delirium was not independently associated with in-hospital mortality (OR [95% CI] 2.26 [0.93-5.54], p = 0.074). In conclusion, delirium was a frequent complication in ICU patients with malignancy independently associated with high resource utilizations, however, it was not independently associated with in-hospital mortality.

Postoperative Delirium in Patients After Brain Tumor Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium is a common surgical complication that can be associated with poorer outcome. Many patients with brain tumors experience delirium after surgery. We hypothesize that patients who experience delirium after resection of a brain tumor will have worse outcomes post surgery in terms of mortality, disposition, and length of stay compared with those without postoperative delirium. We also examine differences between nurse and physician diagnoses of delirium. METHODS: Data from patients undergoing brain tumor resection at University of Missouri Hospital were retrospectively collected. Delirium was defined using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 criteria. Patients with delirium were compared with patients without delirium using chi-squared test, Cohen Kappa value, and binomial proportion analysis at 95% confidence intervals or P < 0.05. RESULTS: Of 500 patients having brain tumor resections, 93 (18.6%) were diagnosed with postoperative delirium. Patients with delirium had higher 30-day mortality (9.78% vs. 1.48%; P < 0.0001), required restraints more often (42.39% vs. 5.91%, P < 0.0001), had longer hospital length of stay (14.3 vs. 6.3 days; P < 0.0001), and increased skilled nursing facility disposition (57.3% vs. 26.11%; P < 0.0001) than patients without delirium. Diagnosis of delirium between nursing staff and clinicians moderately correlated (Kappa 0.5677 ± 0.0536). CONCLUSIONS: Delirium, a common postoperative complication after brain tumor surgery, is associated with longer length of stay, increased disposition to skilled nursing facility, and increased 30-day mortality. These findings reinforce the importance of early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of postoperative delirium in brain tumor resection patients.

Effect of electroencephalogram-guided anaesthesia administration on 1-yr mortality: follow-up of a randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative EEG suppression duration has been associated with postoperative delirium and mortality. In a clinical trial testing anaesthesia titration to avoid EEG suppression, the intervention did not decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium, but was associated with reduced 30-day mortality. The present study evaluated whether the EEG-guided anaesthesia intervention was also associated with reduced 1-yr mortality. METHODS: This manuscript reports 1 yr follow-up of subjects from a single-centre RCT, including a post hoc secondary outcome (1-yr mortality) in addition to pre-specified secondary outcomes. The trial included subjects aged 60 yr or older undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia between January 2015 and May 2018. Patients were randomised to receive EEG-guided anaesthesia or usual care. The previously reported primary outcome was postoperative delirium. The outcome of the current study was all-cause 1-yr mortality. RESULTS: Of the 1232 subjects enrolled, 614 subjects were randomised to EEG-guided anaesthesia and 618 subjects to usual care. One-year mortality was 57/591 (9.6%) in the guided group and 62/601 (10.3%) in the usual-care group. No significant difference in mortality was observed (adjusted absolute risk difference, -0.7%; 99.5% confidence interval, -5.8% to 4.3%; P=0.68). CONCLUSIONS: An EEG-guided anaesthesia intervention aiming to decrease duration of EEG suppression during surgery did not significantly decrease 1-yr mortality. These findings, in the context of other studies, do not provide supportive evidence for EEG-guided anaesthesia to prevent intermediate term postoperative death. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02241655.

Mortality among patients with sepsis associated with a bispectral electroencephalography (BSEEG) score.

We have previously developed a bispectral electroencephalography (BSEEG) device, which was shown to be effective in detecting delirium and predicting patient outcomes. In this study we aimed to apply the BSEEG approach for a sepsis. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a single center. Sepsis-positive cases were identified based on retrospective chart review. EEG raw data and calculated BSEEG scores were obtained in the previous studies. The relationship between BSEEG scores and sepsis was analyzed, as well as the relationship among sepsis, BSEEG score, and mortality. Data were analyzed from 628 patients. The BSEEG score from the first encounter (1st BSEEG) showed a significant difference between patients with and without sepsis (p = 0.0062), although AUC was very small indicating that it is not suitable for detection purpose. Sepsis patients with high BSEEG scores showed the highest mortality, and non-sepsis patients with low BSEEG scores showed the lowest mortality. Mortality of non-sepsis patients with high BSEEG scores was as bad as that of sepsis patients with low BSEEG scores. Even adjusting for age, gender, comorbidity, and sepsis status, BSEEG remained a significant predictor of mortality (p = 0.008). These data are demonstrating its usefulness as a potential tool for identification of patients at high risk and management of sepsis.

Postoperative Delirium is Not Associated with Long-Term Decline in Activities of Daily Living or Mortality After Laryngectomy.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationships between postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative activities of daily living (ADL) and mortality in patients undergoing laryngectomy. We hypothesized that POD would reduce postoperative ADL and increase postoperative mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective study included older participants (age ≥65 y) undergoing total laryngectomy, partial laryngectomy, total laryngectomy plus neck dissection, or partial laryngectomy plus neck dissection under general anesthesia. The diagnosis of delirium was based on the Confusion Assessment Method algorithm, which was administered on postoperative days 1 through 6. ADL were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Index of ADL scale. Follow-up assessments of ADL and mortality were conducted 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: Of 127 participants (aged 70.3 ± 4.1 y), 19 (15.0%) developed POD. POD was not associated with a decrease in ADL after laryngectomy (p=0.599) nor with an increase in postoperative mortality [3/19 (15.8%) vs 12/108 (11.1%), p=0.560, Log rank test]. However, longer surgery duration was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OR, 3.262; 95% CI, 1.261-9.169, p=0.025). CONCLUSION: POD was not associated with long-term ADL or mortality after laryngectomy. Prolonged surgery was the only factor associated with a higher postoperative mortality rate.

Association Between Incident Delirium Treatment With Haloperidol and Mortality in Critically Ill Adults.

OBJECTIVES: Haloperidol is commonly administered in the ICU to reduce the burden of delirium and its related symptoms despite no clear evidence showing haloperidol helps to resolve delirium or improve survival. We evaluated the association between haloperidol, when used to treat incident ICU delirium and its symptoms, and mortality. DESIGN: Post hoc cohort analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, delirium prevention trial. SETTING: Fourteen Dutch ICUs between July 2013 and December 2016. PATIENTS: One-thousand four-hundred ninety-five critically ill adults free from delirium at ICU admission having an expected ICU stay greater than or equal to 2 days. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received preventive haloperidol or placebo for up to 28 days until delirium occurrence, death, or ICU discharge. If delirium occurred, treatment with open-label IV haloperidol 2 mg tid (up to 5 mg tid per delirium symptoms) was administered at clinician discretion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were evaluated tid for delirium and coma for 28 days. Time-varying Cox hazards models were constructed for 28-day and 90-day mortality, controlling for study-arm, delirium and coma days, age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II score, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay. Among the 1,495 patients, 542 (36%) developed delirium within 28 days (median [interquartile range] with delirium 4 d [2-7 d]). A total of 477 of 542 (88%) received treatment haloperidol (2.1 mg [1.0-3.8 mg] daily) for 6 days (3-11 d). Each milligram of treatment haloperidol administered daily was associated with decreased mortality at 28 days (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.91-0.95) and 90 days (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.98). Treatment haloperidol administered later in the ICU course was less protective of death. Results were stable by prevention study-arm, predelirium haloperidol exposure, and haloperidol treatment protocol adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of incident delirium and its symptoms with haloperidol may be associated with a dose-dependent improvement in survival. Future randomized trials need to confirm these results.

Association of Delirium during Critical Illness With Mortality: Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The temporal association of delirium during critical illness with mortality is unclear, along with the associations of hypoactive and hyperactive motoric subtypes of delirium with mortality. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of delirium during critical illness, including hypoactive and hyperactive motoric subtypes, with mortality in the hospital and after discharge up to 1 year. METHODS: We analyzed a prospective cohort study of adults with respiratory failure and/or shock admitted to university, community, and Veterans Affairs hospitals. We assessed patients using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale and the Confusion Assessment Method for the intensive care unit (ICU) and defined the motoric subtype according to the corresponding Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale if delirium was present. We used Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for baseline characteristics, coma, and daily hospital events, to determine whether delirium on a given day predicted mortality the following day in patients in the hospital and also to determine whether delirium presence and duration predicted mortality after discharge up to 1 year in patients who survived to hospital discharge. We performed similar analyses for hypoactive and hyperactive subtypes of delirium. RESULTS: Among 1040 critically ill patients, 214 (21%) died in the hospital and 204 (20%) died out-of-hospital by 1 year. Delirium was common, occurring in 740 (71%) patients for a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 4 (2-7) days. Hypoactive delirium occurred in 733 (70%) patients, and hyperactive occurred in 185 (18%) patients, with a median (IQR) of 3 (2-7) days and 1 (1-2) days, respectively. Delirium on a given day (hazard ratio [HR], 2.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-6.21; P = .008), in particular the hypoactive subtype (HR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.51-7.46; P = .003), was independently associated with an increased risk of death the following day in the hospital. Hyperactive delirium was not associated with an increased risk of death in the hospital (HR, 4.00; 95% CI, 0.49-32.51; P = .19). Among hospital survivors, neither delirium presence (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.82-1.24; P = .95) nor duration (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-1.01; P = .56), regardless of motoric subtype, was associated with mortality after hospital discharge up to 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium during critical illness is associated with nearly a 3-fold increased risk of death the following day for patients in the hospital but is not associated with mortality after hospital discharge. This finding appears primarily driven by the hypoactive motoric subtype. The independent relationship between delirium and mortality occurs early during critical illness but does not persist after hospital discharge.

Long-Term Outcomes in ICU Patients with Delirium: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Rationale: Delirium is common in the ICU and portends worse ICU and hospital outcomes. The effect of delirium in the ICU on post-hospital discharge mortality and health resource use is less well known. Objectives: To estimate mortality and health resource use 2.5 years after hospital discharge in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU. Methods: This was a population-based, propensity score-matched, retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to 1 of 14 medical-surgical ICUs from January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2016. Delirium was measured by using the 8-point Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist. The primary outcome was mortality. The secondary outcome was a composite measure of subsequent emergency department visits, hospital readmission, or mortality. Measurements and Main Results: There were 5,936 propensity score-matched patients with and without a history of incident delirium who survived to hospital discharge. Delirium was associated with increased mortality 0-30 days after hospital discharge (hazard ratio, 1.44 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.92]). There was no significant difference in mortality more than 30 days after hospital discharge (delirium: 3.9%, no delirium: 2.6%). There was a persistent increased risk of emergency department visits, hospital readmissions, or mortality after hospital discharge (hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.17]) throughout the study period. Conclusions: ICU delirium is associated with increased mortality 0-30 days after hospital discharge.

Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients with Dementia Compared to an Aging Cohort Hospitalized During the Initial New York City COVID-19 Wave.

BACKGROUND: Patients with dementia are vulnerable during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, yet few studies describe their hospital course and outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the hospital course for COVID-19 patients with dementia to an aging cohort without dementia in a large New York City academic medical center. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study describing all consecutive patients age 65 or older with confirmed COVID-19 who presented to the emergency department or were hospitalized at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center between March 6 and April 7, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 531 patients were evaluated, including 116 (21.8%) with previously diagnosed dementia, and 415 without dementia. Patients with dementia had higher mortality (50.0%versus 35.4%, p = 0.006); despite similar comorbidities and complications, multivariate analysis indicated the association was dependent on age, sex, comorbidities, and code status. Patients with dementia more often presented with delirium (36.2%versus 11.6%, p < 0.001) but less often presented with multiple other COVID-19 symptoms, and these findings remained after adjusting for age and sex. CONCLUSION: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with dementia had higher mortality, but dementia was not an independent risk factor for death. These patients were approximately 3 times more likely to present with delirium but less often manifested or communicated other common COVID-19 symptoms. For this high-risk population in a worsening pandemic, understanding the unique manifestations and course in dementia and aging populations may help guide earlier diagnosis and optimize medical management.

Delirium as a predictor of mortality and disability among hospitalized patients in Zambia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiology and outcomes of delirium among hospitalized patients in Zambia. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, from October 2017 to April 2018. The primary exposure was delirium duration over the initial 3 days of hospitalization, assessed daily using the Brief Confusion Assessment Method. The primary outcome was 6-month mortality. Secondary outcomes included 6-month disability, evaluated using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. FINDINGS: 711 adults were included (median age, 39 years; 461 men; 459 medical, 252 surgical; 323 with HIV). Delirium prevalence was 48.5% (95% CI, 44.8%-52.3%). 6-month mortality was higher for delirious participants (44.6% [39.3%-50.1%]) versus non-delirious participants (20.0% [15.4%-25.2%]; P < .001). After adjusting for covariates, delirium duration independently predicted 6-month mortality and disability with a significant dose-response association between number of days with delirium and odds of worse clinical outcome. Compared to no delirium, presence of 1, 2 or 3 days of delirium resulted in odds ratios for 6-month mortality of 1.43 (95% CI, 0.73-2.80), 2.20 (1.07-4.51), and 3.92 (2.24-6.87), respectively (P < .001). Odds of 6-month disability were 1.20 (0.70-2.05), 1.73 (0.95-3.17), and 2.80 (1.78-4.43), respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Among hospitalized medical and surgical patients in Zambia, delirium prevalence was high and delirium duration independently predicted mortality and disability at 6 months. This work lays the foundation for prevention, detection, and management of delirium in low-income countries. Long-term follow up of outcomes of critical illness in resource-limited settings appears feasible using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule.

Comparison of hospital course and outcome in hospital-acquired vs pre-existing delirium.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a major source of morbidity in the inpatient hospital setting. This study examined differences between patients with delirium present prior to hospital admission and those with hospitalacquired delirium in several health outcomes. METHODS: A total of 12,529 patients on 2 inpatient units were included in this retrospective cohort study. Outcomes were assessed using chart review. Other variables were compared across groups and included in multivariate models predicting discharge location within the hospitalacquired delirium group. RESULTS: Of 709 patients with delirium, 83% had pre-admission prevalent and 17% had post-admission incident delirium. Compared with patients with preexisting delirium, patients with hospital-acquired delirium had greater hospital durations and mortality and were more likely to receive ICU care, more likely to receive multiple classes of medications, and less likely to be discharged home without home health services. Multivariate analysis in the hospital-acquired delirium group found that several variables independently predicted discharge location. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hospital-acquired delirium had worse hospital outcomes and a more complicated hospital course than those with preexisting delirium. Administration of various medications, several demographic variables, and some hospital-related variables were independently associated with worse outcomes within the hospital-acquired delirium group. These results demonstrate that patients with hospitalacquired delirium are a vulnerable subgroup deserving special attention.