title: [Three-month life prognosis and associated factors in patients with altered mental status admimtted to the emergency room of a national hospital in Peru].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine the prognosis at three months and associated factors of patients with altered mental status (AMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study that included patients over 18 years of age admitted to the emergency room in a national hospital, with AMS, within twenty-four hours of onset and that required observation. The demographic, clinical and functional assessment information were taken from the medical record. A follow-up was made at three months by telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 290 patients, representing 4.1% of the total patients in the emergency room. Overall mortality was 24.2%, whereas in the subgroup of older adults was 28.1%; 19.3% in adults and 15.2% in young adults. The average age was 63.5 years and the elderly group constituted nearly two thirds of the population. 51% were males. The average hospital stay was 7 days. The most frequently associated causes were infectious diseases (44.1%), neurological (40.3%), respiratory (28.3%), metabolic (18.6%), and cardiovascular (17.2%) disorders. Mortality was associated with a) GCS levels <7 (OR 2.9, p<0.001) and b) functionality score of 5 on the modifi Rankin scale (OR 8.2, p=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMS, present in 4% of emergency admissions, is associated with mortality in one in four people. The predominant cause infectious diseases. The commitment of the functionality was the main predictor of mortality.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alva-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Conocimiento y Evidencia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de los Ángeles Lazo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Conocimiento y Evidencia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
authors.forename: Javier D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Loza-Herrera
authors.affiliation: Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia.
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Málaga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010568:Peru; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult