title: Outcomes of early delirium diagnosis after general anesthesia in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative delirium in the elderly, measured days after surgery, is associated with significant negative clinical outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence and in-hospital outcomes of delirium diagnosed immediately after general anesthesia and surgery in elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive English-speaking surgical candidates, aged 70 years or older, were prospectively enrolled during July to August 2010. After surgery, each participant was evaluated for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV diagnosis of delirium in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and repeatedly thereafter while hospitalized. Delirium in the PACU was evaluated for an independent association with change in cognitive function from preoperative baseline testing and discharge disposition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one (58% female) patients, 78% of whom were living independently before surgery, were found to have a prevalence of delirium in the PACU of 45% (41/91); 74% (14/19) of all delirium episodes detected during subsequent hospitalization started in the PACU. Early delirium was independently associated with impaired cognition (i.e., decreased category word fluency) relative to presurgery baseline testing (adjusted difference [95% confidence interval] for change in T-score: -6.02 [-10.58 to -1.45]; P = 0.01). Patients whose delirium had resolved by postoperative day 1 showed negative outcomes that were intermediate in severity between those who were never delirious during hospitalization and those whose delirium in the PACU persisted after transfer to hospital wards (adjusted probability [95% confidence interval] of discharge to institution: 3% [0%-10%], 26% [1%-51%], 39% [0%-81%] for the 3 groups, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delirium in the PACU is common, but not universal. It is associated with subsequent delirium on the ward, and potentially with a decline in cognitive function and increased institutionalization at hospital discharge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Osler 320 General Hospital Psychiatry, 600 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287-5371, USA. kneufel2@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Karin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: Jeannie-Marie S
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leoutsakos
authors.forename: Frederick E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Sieber
authors.forename: Brett L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Wanamaker
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gibson Chambers
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schretlen
authors.forename: Dale M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Needham
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000359:Aftercare; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011997:Recovery Room; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors