Impact of delirium on short-term mortality in elderly inpatients: a prospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Delirium is an important problem especially in older medical inpatients.


OBJECTIVE
The authors asked whether delirium and its duration are associated with higher mortality in a 3-month follow-up period.


METHODS
In this prospective cohort study, inpatients age 65 and older were assessed every 48 hours with the Confusion Assessment Method.


RESULTS
Of 542 patients enrolled, 192 (35.4%) developed delirium. After 3 months, mortality in the delirium cohort was 25.9%, and in the nondelirium cohort was 5.8%. Delirium was independently associated with mortality, and increased by 11% for every 48 hours of delirium.


CONCLUSIONS
Delirium and increased delirium durations are significantly associated with higher mortality.
González
Matías
M
Psychiatry Department, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago-Chile RM, Chile.
Martínez
Gabriel
G
Calderón
Jorge
J
Villarroel
Luis
L
Yuri
Francisca
F
Rojas
Carlos
C
Jeria
Alvaro
A
Valdivia
Gonzalo
G
Marín
Pedro Paulo
PP
Carrasco
Marcela
M
D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation