Delirium en pacientes de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos de una institución de salud en Montería, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction

Delirium, in addition to causing suffering to patients, relatives and caregivers, is associated with increases in morbidity, mortality and hospital complications, which leads to high costs for the health system.

Objective

To determine the incidence of delirium and related factors in patients admitted to an intensive care unit of a health institution in the city of Monteria, Colombia.

Methods

A descriptive, longitudinal study with a quantitative approach that includes the correlation of variables of interest with the incidence of delirium. For the collection of information and subsequent analysis, the CAM-ICU scale –which allowed the identification of the presence of delirium– and the APACHE II severity scale were used. Likewise, a data card was prepared based on clinical and epidemiological variables of interest.

Results

The patients were mostly men (50.5%) with an average age of 60 years. The incidence of delirium was 22% with hyperactive presentation in 62% of cases. There was no relationship between the presence of delirium and the variables of age, sex and APACHE II, although correlation was observed with the use of mechanical ventilation and with the days of stay in the health centre.

Conclusions

Patients who developed delirium, the hyperactive form being the most common, were characterized either by having spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit or having undergone mechanical ventilation.