[Incidence and factors associated with delirium in an Emergency Department].

Abstract

Background: Changes in cognition, attention, consciousness, and perception that occur rapidly and evolve unpredictably are the hallmarks of delirium syndrome. Out of hospitalized patients over the age of 65, 20% experience complications during their stay; in Mexico, the incidence is reported to be 12%.

Objective: To determine the incidence and factors associated with delirium in an Emergency Department.

Material and methods: Prospective study, with 169 patients over 65 years of age, of both sexes, admitted to an Emergency Department for medical and surgical reasons, from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. The Confussion Assessment Method (CAM) scale was administered to them and the incidence of delirium was determined; descriptive and inferential analysis was carried out using chi-squared with a statistical significance ≤ 0.05.

Results: There were 92 female patients (56.3%) with a median age of 77 years (65-90). The incidence of delirium was 43.8%. The comorbidities associated with delirium were infections in 22.48% (p = 0.774), arrhythmias in 7.10% (p = 0.551) and heart disease in 5.91% (p = 0.477).

Conclusions: Delirium occurred with a higher incidence compared to that reported in national and international literature; no statistically significant association was found between the present pathologies and delirium.