Understanding terminology of delirium and long-term cognitive impairment in critically ill patients.
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol
; 26(3): 267-76, 2012 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23040280
ABSTRACT
Delirium, an acute brain dysfunction, frequently affects intensive care unit (ICU) patients during the course of a critical illness. Besides the acute morbidities, ICU survivors often experience long-term sequelae in the form of cognitive impairment (LTCI-CI). Though delirium and LTCI-CI are associated with adverse outcomes, little is known on the terminology used to define these acute and chronic co-morbidities. The use of a correct terminology is a key factor to spread the knowledge on clinical conditions. Therefore, we first review the epidemiology, definition of delirium and its related terminology. Second, we report on the epidemiology of LTCI-CI and compare its definition to other forms of cognitive impairments. In particular, we define mild cognitive impairment, dementia and finally postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Future research is needed to interpret the trajectories of LTCI-CI, to differentiate it from neurodegenerative diseases and to provide a formal disease classification.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cognition Disorders
/
Delirium
/
Terminology as Topic
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol
Journal subject:
ANESTESIOLOGIA
Year:
2012
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy