title: [Prevalence of delirium in patients admitted because of medical conditions].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Delirium is a common problem among people during hospitalization. The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of delirium among patients admitted by medical conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a transversal cohort study in 165 patients admitted to 6 tertiary teaching hospitals. We scored the Barthel index (BI) previously to their admission, and also comorbidity using the Charlson index. Diagnosis of delirium was assessed using the Confusional Assessment Method in this transversal study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 101 women (61.2%) and 64 men. The mean (SD) age was 80.3 (12) years. The average of Charlson Index was 2.6 (1.7). Previous and evaluation BI were 71.5 (27) and 40.3 (30) respectively. Forty-two patients (25.4%) had delirium. Poor BI at the evaluation and previous diagnosis of dementia were significant independent variables associated with delirium in the logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delirium is frequent in medical hospitalized patients. Previous dementia and low BI at the evaluation among medical patients are associated with delirium.
authors.affiliation: UFISS Geriatría, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. fformiga@csub.scs.es
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formiga
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: San José
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Soto
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urrutia
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duaso
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003693:Delirium / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence