Delirium

Abstract

Delirium is a common medical condition that healthcare providers will encounter while caring for older adults, especially in the hospitalized patient. On a general medical service, rates of delirium range from 10 to 40% (Levkoff et al., Int Psychogeriatr 3(2):149-167, 1991; Trzepacz, Psychiatr Clin North Am 19(3):429-448, 1996; Siddiqi et al., Age Ageing 35(4):350-364, 2006). Further, up to a quarter of hospitalized patients over age 65 will present with delirium (Francis et al., JAMA 263(8):1097-1101, 1990). An additional 30% of hospitalized patients in this age group will develop delirium acutely during their hospitalization (Rudberg et al., Age Ageing 26(3):169-174, 1997). Familiarity with the clinical syndrome of delirium, identification of which patients are at risk, and knowledge on how to prevent, diagnose, and treat delirium are critical to healthcare professional’s ability to provide high quality care of hospitalized older adults.