46 Predictors of delirium in patients admitted in a general hospital

Abstract

Background/Aims Delirium is associated with numerous complications such as physical problems, cognitive impairment, prolonged hospital stay and increased mortality rates. Therefore, the diagnosis and prevention of delirium is an essential issue in admitted patients care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of delirium in a general hospital. Materials and methods This study has a descriptive method done on 220 samples between 2017 to 2018. Subjects were recruited among all adult patients admitted to the general hospital who had a Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS scale) of more than 3. Patients with decrease in the level of consciousness who were unable to answer questions and patients who were admitted to the Intensive care unit were excluded. After primary assessment, demographic data were obtained and secondly the rate of delirium was evaluated by using CAM (Confusion Assessment Method). Results The prevalence of delirium was 10% in hospital admissions. The rate of delirium was in emergency ward (31.3%), hematology (22.2%), internal medicine (11.6%) and surgery (2.4%). The prevalence of delirium increased with age, visual deficits, sleep disorders, dementia, and neurological diseases, diabetes and malignancies. The use of antibiotics, analgesics and sedative agents was associated with an increase in delirium, but only there was a significant relation with the use of anticoagulants. Conclusions Delirium almost has been detected in all general hospital wards and its prevalence was related to age, visual problems, sleep disturbances, existence of dementia and neurological diseases and the usage of anticoagulant agents.