title: Altered Mental Status and Delirium.
abstract: Older patients who present to the emergency department frequently have acute or chronic alterations of their mental status, including their level of consciousness and cognition. Recognizing both acute and chronic changes in cognition are important for emergency physicians. Delirium is an acute change in attention, awareness, and cognition. Numerous life-threatening conditions can cause delirium; therefore, prompt recognition and treatment are critical. The authors discuss an organized approach that can lead to a prompt diagnosis within the time constraints of the emergency department.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Summa Health System-Akron City Hospital, Northeastern Ohio Medical University, 525 East Market Street, Akron, OH 44309, USA. Electronic address: wilbers@summahealth.org.
authors.forename: Scott T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wilber
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Summa Health System-Akron City Hospital, Northeastern Ohio Medical University, 525 East Market Street, Akron, OH 44309, USA.
authors.forename: Jason E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ondrejka
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003221:Confusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010808:Physical Examination; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Altered mental status; Delirium; Dementia; Elderly; Emergency medicine; Medical decision-making capacity