Risk factors for dementia post-delirium

Abstract

Delirium is a common disorder that can affect up to 50% of elderly patients in an acute hospital but some studies quote that patients affected by delirium are 3.5 times more likely to develop dementia over five years following postoperative delirium; others quote a relative risk of 10.5 times. Here, the authors investigate the rate of dementia in people who initially present with delirium, and risk factors for developing dementia post-delirium, which offer important practical messages for follow-up in clinical practice.