Prevalence and outcomes of delirium in community and non-acute care settings in people without dementia: a report from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging.
BACKGROUND
While delirium is common among older adults in acute care hospitals, its prevalence in other settings has been less well studied. We examined delirium prevalence and outcomes in a large cohort of older Canadians living outside of acute care.


METHODS
In this secondary analysis of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, the prevalence of clinically diagnosed delirium was estimated and five-year survival was compared with that of individuals with dementia of graded severity.


RESULTS
Delirium was very uncommon (prevalence <0.5%) and was associated with reduced survival, similar to that of moderate-to-severe dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
In this cohort of older Canadians, delirium in non-demented people was associated with very low 5-year survival, at levels comparable with advanced dementia. Although it is common in hospital, delirium is uncommon among older adults in their usual place of residence, suggesting that it is a potent stimulus to seek medical care.
Andrew
Melissa K
MK
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. mandrew@dal.ca
Freter
Susan H
SH
Rockwood
Kenneth
K
D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003693:Delirium / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome