Incidence of delirium following hospitalization of elderly people with fractures: risk factors and mortality

Abstract

Objective: To identify the incidence, risk factors for delirium, and its association withdeath in the elderly hospitalized with fractures. Method: Prospective cohort, with aone-year follow-up of elderly people with clinical or radiological diagnosis of fracture,from an emergency and trauma hospital in the state of Goiás. The outcome deliriumwas defined by the medical description in the medical record. The predictor variableswere demographic, health conditions, and hospitalization complications. A hierarchicalmultiple analysis was performed using robust Poisson regression, with Relative Risk as ameasure of effect. Results: A total of 376 elderly patients were included. The incidenceof delirium was 12.8% (n = 48). Risk factors were male gender, age ≥80 years, dementia,heart disease, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high-energy traumas,pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and surgery. The risk of death in the sample was1.97 times higher (HR: 1.97 95% CI 1.19–3.25) in elderly people with delirium.Conclusion: Delirium had an intermediate incidence (12.8%); the risk of death in thisgroup was about 2 times higher in one year after hospital admission. Demographicfactors, past history of diseases, surgery, and complications have increased the risk andrequire monitoring during hospitalization of elderly people with fractures.