The Risk Factors for Delirium in Patients with Stroke in Palliative Care

Abstract

Aim: Post-stroke delirium is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome that increases the distress of patients and family members and leads to long-term results, especially in older age. In this study, we aimed to investigate the risk factors for delirium in patients followed-up in palliative care with the diagnosis of stroke. Material and Method: This retrospective study included 161 patients followed-up in the palliative care ward with the diagnosis of stroke. Patients diagnosed with stroke were grouped as ischemic stroke (IS), hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The age, gender, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) status, presence of infection, electrolyte values, length of hospitalization, discharge conditions and comorbid diseases of the patients included in the study were evaluated. Results: The average age of the patients was 70.49 ± 15.269 years, the length of hospitalization was 46.6 ± 16.11 days, and 35 (21.1%) patients had been diagnosed with delirium. In patients who developed delirium, the ages were significantly lower, the infection rates were significantly higher, and the length of hospitalization was significantly longer (p=0.046, p<0.001, p=0.003). While the proportion of patients with a PEG was significantly lower, the rate use of anticholinergics, narcotic analgesics, antiepileptics and antipsychotics was significantly higher in patients who had developed delirium. Conclusion: We think that determining and managing the risk factors for delirium development in stroke patients followed-up in palliative care will decrease the morbidity and improve the quality of life of the patients and that further studies on this topic are needed.