Association of anticholinergic activity of prescribed medications with postoperative delirium.
In a prior study, delirium and plasma anticholinergic drug levels were significantly correlated in 9 of 25 surgical intensive care patients. The present study, using cumulative anticholinergic effects of parent compounds of these patients' medications, found that delirious patients' medication combinations had significantly higher cumulative anticholinergic effects than those of nondelirious patients.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD 21205.
L
L
Tune
S
S
Carr
T
T
Cooper
B
B
Klug
R C
RC
Golinger
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*
D010276:Parasympatholytics