Analysis of prognosis-relating factors in the elderly patients after the initial onset of delirium

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlations of risk factors of age, delirium-inducing factors, dementia, delirium severity, and disease severity with the prognosis of elderly patients with delirium. Methods A total of 112 patients aged 70 years and older with initial onset of delirium during hospital stay were enrolled in this study.They were hospitalized in Dalian Municipal Central Hospital from Jan.2013 to Dec.2015.The severity of delirium was evaluated by delirium rating scale-revised-98(DRS-R-98). The acute physiology and chronic health enquiry(APACHE-Ⅱ)score and the sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)score were recorded within 48 h after delirium onset.After periods of hospitalization of Jan.2013 to Dec.2015, patients were followed up until 31 Dec 2017.Correlations of age, delirium-inducing factors and dementia with survival time and long-term viability after delirium onset were statistically analyzed. Results Age, delirium-inducing factors, cognitive impairment, duration of cognitive impairment, type of dementia, and delirium severity had no correlations with the lifetime and long-term viability in patients with delirium.While, APACHE Ⅱ score for assessment of severity degree of delirium(P<0.001, r=-0.390)and SOFA score(P<0.001, r=-0.638)were negatively correlated with the lifetime in patients with delirium.SOFA score(P=0.004)and delirium recurrence(P<0.001)were significantly correlated with the long-term viability in patients with delirium. Conclusions The severity and recurrence of delirium are strongly correlated with the lifetime and quality of life in patients with delirium.Compared with APACHE Ⅱ score, SOFA score may have a more important clinical application value in predicting the prognosis of patients with delirium. Key words: Delirium; Prognosis