Days Of Delirium Research Articles

Improving the Detection, Assessment, Management and Prevention of Delirium in Hospices (the DAMPen-D study): Feasibility study of a flexible and scalable implementation strategy to deliver guideline-adherent delirium care

Background: Delirium is a complex condition, stressful for all involved. Although highly prevalent in palliative care settings, it remains underdiagnosed and associated with poor outcomes. Guideline-adherent delirium care may improve its detection, assessment and management. Aim: To inform a future definitive study that tests whether an implementation strategy designed to improve guideline-adherent delirium care in palliative care settings improves patient outcomes (reduced proportion of in-patient days with delirium). Design: With Patient Involvement members, we conducted a feasibility study to assess the acceptability of and engagement with the implementation strategy by hospice staff (intervention), and whether clinical record data collection of process (e.g. guideline-adherent delirium care) and clinical outcomes (evidence of delirium using a validated chart-based instrument;) pre- and 12-weeks post-implementation of the intervention would be possible. Setting/participants: In-patient admissions in three English hospices. Results: Between June 2021 and December 2022, clinical record data were extracted from 300 consecutive admissions. Despite data collection during COVID-19, target clinical record data collection (n = 300) was achieved. Approximately two-thirds of patients had a delirium episode during in-patient stay at both timepoints. A 6% absolute reduction in proportion of delirium days in those with a delirium episode was observed. Post-implementation improvements in guideline-adherent metrics include: clinical delirium diagnosis 15%–28%; delirium risk assessment 0%–16%; screening on admission 7%–35%. Conclusions: Collection of data on delirium outcomes and guideline-adherence from clinical records is feasible. The signal of patient benefit supports formal evaluation in a large-scale study.

Multicentre implementation of a quality improvement initiative to reduce delirium in adult intensive care units: An interrupted time series analysis

PurposeThe ABCDEF bundle may improve delirium outcomes among intensive care unit (ICU) patients, however population-based studies are lacking. In this study we evaluated effects of a quality improvement initiative based on the ABCDEF bundle in adult ICUs in Alberta, Canada. Material and methodsWe conducted a pre-post, registry-based clinical trial, analysed using interrupted time series methodology. Outcomes were examined via segmented linear regression using mixed effects models. The main data source was a population-based electronic health record. Results44,405 consecutive admissions (38,400 unique patients) admitted to 15 general medical/surgical and/or neurologic adult ICUs between 2014 and 2019 were included. The proportion of delirium days per ICU increased from 30.24% to 35.31% during the pre-intervention period. After intervention implementation it decreased significantly (bimonthly decrease of 0.34%, 95%CI 0.18–0.50%, p < 0.01) from 33.48% (95%CI 29.64–37.31%) in 2017 to 28.74% (95%CI 25.22–32.26%) in 2019. The proportion of sedation days using midazolam demonstrated an immediate decrease of 7.58% (95%CI 4.00–11.16%). There were no significant changes in duration of invasive ventilation, proportion of partial coma days, ICU mortality, or potential adverse events. ConclusionsAn ABCDEF delirium initiative was implemented on a population-basis within adult ICUs and was successful at reducing the prevalence of delirium.

Improving hospice delirium guideline adoption through an understanding of barriers and facilitators: A mixed-methods study.

This study seeks to understand and address barriers to practitioners' optimal assessment and management of people with delirium in hospices. Retrospective clinical record review to identify areas of low concordance with guideline-adherent delirium care; Survey of healthcare practitioners to identify barriers and facilitators to optimal care; Qualitative interviews with health care practitioners to explore and develop strategies to address barriers or optimise facilitators; Meeting with senior clinical staff to refine identified strategies. Eighty clinical records were reviewed. Elements of poor guideline concordance were identified. Delirium screening on admission was conducted for 61% of admissions. Non-pharmacological management was documented for 59% of those we identified as having delirium from the clinical records. Survey and interview data identified key barriers to delirium assessment as competing priorities, poor knowledge and skills and lack of environmental resources (staff and guidelines, environment). Consultation with staff resulted in strategies to address barriers and enhance facilitators including champions, educational meetings, audit and feedback, and environmental changes (including careful consideration of the staff skills mix on shift and tools to support non-pharmacological management). We conducted a theoretically underpinned, internationally relevant study in a hospice in England, UK. Implementation of strategies should result in greater guideline-adherent delirium care. Further work should test this in practice and include both process and clinical outcomes (e.g., reduction in delirium days).

Relationship Between Pain and Delirium in Critically Ill Adults.

Although opioids are frequently used to treat pain, and are an important risk for ICU delirium, the association between ICU pain itself and delirium remains unclear. We sought to evaluate the relationship between ICU pain and delirium. Prospective cohort study. A 32-bed academic medical-surgical ICU. Critically ill adults (n = 4,064) admitted greater than or equal to 24 hours without a condition hampering delirium assessment. None. Daily mental status was classified as arousable without delirium, delirium, or unarousable. Pain was assessed six times daily in arousable patients using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) or the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT); daily peak pain score was categorized as no (NRS = 0/CPOT = 0), mild (NRS = 1-3/CPOT = 1-2), moderate (NRS = 4-6/CPOT = 3-4), or severe (NRS = 7-10/CPOT = 5-8) pain. To address missingness, a Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations approach that used available daily pain severity and 19 pain predictors was used to generate 25 complete datasets. Using a first-order Markov model with a multinomial logistic regression analysis, that controlled for 11 baseline/daily delirium risk factors and considered the competing risks of unarousability and ICU discharge/death, the association between peak daily pain and next-day delirium in each complete dataset was evaluated. Among 14,013 ICU days (contributed by 4,064 adults), delirium occurred on 2,749 (19.6%). After pain severity imputation on 1,818 ICU days, mild, moderate, and severe pain were detected on 2,712 (34.1%), 1,682 (21.1%), and 894 (11.2%) of the no-delirium days, respectively, and 992 (36.1%), 513 (18.6%), and 27 (10.1%) of delirium days (p = 0.01). The presence of any pain (mild, moderate, or severe) was not associated with a transition from awake without delirium to delirium (aOR 0.96; 95% CI, 0.76-1.21). This association was similar when days with only mild, moderate, or severe pain were considered. All results were stable after controlling for daily opioid dose. After controlling for multiple delirium risk factors, including daily opioid use, pain may not be a risk factor for delirium in the ICU. Future prospective research is required.

Characteristics of delirium and its association with sedation and in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has been used in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aim to assess the characteristics of delirium and describe its association with sedation and in-hospital mortality. We retrospectively reviewed adult patients on VV-ECMO for severe COVID-19 ARDS in the Johns Hopkins Hospital ECMO registry in 2020-2021. Delirium was assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) when patients scored-3 or above on the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). Primary outcomes were delirium prevalence and duration in the proportion of days on VV-ECMO. Of 47 patients (median age = 51), 6 were in a persistent coma and 40 of the remaining 41 patients (98%) had ICU delirium. Delirium in the survivors (n = 21) and non-survivors (n = 26) was first detected at a similar time point (VV-ECMO day 9.5(5,14) vs. 8.5(5,21), p = 0.56) with similar total delirium days on VV-ECMO (9.5[3.3, 16.8] vs. 9.0[4.3, 28.3] days, p = 0.43). Non-survivors had numerically lower RASS scores on VV-ECMO days (-3.72[-4.42, -2.96] vs. -3.10[-3.91, -2.21], p = 0.06) and significantly prolonged delirium-unassessable days on VV-ECMO with a RASS of -4/-5 (23.0[16.3, 38.3] vs. 17.0(6,23), p = 0.03), and total VV-ECMO days (44.5[20.5, 74.3] vs. 27.0[21, 38], p = 0.04). The proportion of delirium-present days correlated with RASS (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), the proportions of days on VV-ECMO with a neuromuscular blocker (r = -0.59, p = 0.001), and with delirium-unassessable exams (r = -0.69, p < 0.001) but not with overall ECMO duration (r = 0.01, p = 0.96). The average daily dosage of delirium-related medications on ECMO days did not differ significantly. On an exploratory multivariable logistic regression, the proportion of delirium days was not associated with mortality. Longer duration of delirium was associated with lighter sedation and shorter paralysis, but it did not discern in-hospital mortality. Future studies should evaluate analgosedation and paralytic strategies to optimize delirium, sedation level, and outcomes.

Ramelteon for delirium prevention in hospitalized patients: An updated meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Although ramelteon has been examined as a relatively new therapeutic option for delirium prevention, current evidence to evaluate its efficacy is limited. We conducted an updated meta-analysis and examine the reliability of existing evidence regarding the effect of ramelteon on delirium prevention in hospitalized patients. Seven major electronic databases were systematically searched to identify randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of ramelteon in delirium prevention. Data were pooled using a frequentist-restricted maximum-likelihood random-effects model. A trial sequential analysis was performed using relative risk reduction thresholds of 50%. The primary outcome was the incidence of delirium (reported as odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals). The secondary outcomes were the days of delirium, all-cause mortality, and all-cause discontinuation. Of 187 potentially eligible studies identified, 8 placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (n = 587) were included. This updated meta-analysis showed that ramelteon was associated with lower odds of delirium occurrence than placebo (0.50; 0.29-0.86; I2 = 17.48%). In trial sequential analysis, the effect of ramelteon across the superiority boundary when using a relative risk reduction threshold ranging from 40% to 60%. In subgroup analyses, ramelteon compared with placebo was associated with lower odds of delirium occurrence in the elderly group (k = 5; 0.28; 0.09-0.85; I2 = 27.93%) and multiple dosage group (k = 5; 0.34; 0.14-0.82; I2 = 44.24%) but not in the non-elderly and non-multiple dosage groups. When considering surgical patients and medical patients separately, ramelteon showed a trend in the treatment of delirium prevention in both groups, while these findings were not statistically significant. No significant between-group differences were found in the secondary outcomes. The current meta-analysis provides updated and reliable evidence that ramelteon, in comparison with placebo, reduces the risk of delirium among hospitalized patients.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Intensive Care Unit Delirium After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Delirium remains understudied after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We sought to identify independent predictors of delirium among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with TBI. This single-center retrospective cohort study evaluated adult patients with TBI requiring ICU admission. Outcomes included delirium days within the first 14days, as assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method-ICU (CAM-ICU). Models were adjusted for age, sex, insurance, Marshall head computed tomography classification, presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), Injury Severity Score (ISS), need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, maximum admission Glasgow Coma motor score, glucose level, hemoglobin level, and pupil reactivity. Delirium prevalence was 60%, with a median duration of 4days (interquartile range: 2-8) among ICU patients with TBI (n = 2,664). Older age, higher ISS, maximum motor score < 6, Marshall class II-IV, and SAH were associated with risk of increased delirium duration (all p < 0.001). In this large cohort, ICU delirium after TBI affected three of five patients for a median duration of 4days. Age, general injury severity, motor score, and features of intracranial hemorrhage were predictive of more TBI-associated delirium days. Given the high prevalence of ICU delirium after TBIand itsimpact on hospitalization, further work is needed to understand the impact of delirium and TBI on outcomes and to determine whether delirium risk can be minimized.

Evaluation of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjunct to Phenobarbital for Alcohol Withdrawal in Critically Ill Patients.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is commonly used with benzodiazepines for the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), but limited data exist regarding its use with phenobarbital (PHB). This analysis evaluated the utility of DEX in addition to PHB for AWS in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). This was a single-center, retrospective cohort analysis of critically ill adult patients who received PHB plus either DEX or different adjunctive therapies (NO-DEX) for AWS between 2018 and 2021. Patients were excluded if they had underlying altered mental status or seizure disorder unrelated to AWS or received PHB at outside hospitals. Coarsened exact matching (CEM) was performed to match patients on baseline characteristics in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was ICU length of stay (LOS). A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the effects of DEX on ICU LOS when accounting for confounders. Secondary outcomes included days with delirium and incidence of mechanical ventilation after PHB administration. Of the 606 encounters evaluated, 197 met criteria for inclusion. After CEM, 56 encounters remained in each group for analysis. The median ICU LOS was 97.2 [50.1:139.5] hours for the DEX group and 47.5 [28.8:88.1] hours for the NO-DEX group (P = .002). The multivariate linear regression analysis showed the use of DEX (P = .008) was independently associated with an increased ICU LOS by 49.8 h. The DEX group had higher rates of total delirium days (208 vs 143 days, P < .001) and a higher incidence of mechanical ventilation after PHB administration (32% vs 9%, P < .001). This analysis suggests the use of adjunctive DEX with PHB for AWS was associated with a prolonged ICU LOS. Additional studies are needed to further understand the role of adjunctive DEX in the treatment of AWS in critically ill patients.

Association of Incident Delirium With Short-term Mortality in Adults With Critical Illness Receiving Mechanical Ventilation

Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired delirium and/or coma have consequences for patient outcomes. However, contradictory findings exist, especially when considering short-term (ie, in-hospital) mortality and length of stay (LOS). To assess whether incident delirium, days of delirium, days of coma, and delirium- and coma-free days (DCFDs) are associated with 14-day mortality, in-hospital mortality, and hospital LOS among patients with critical illness receiving mechanical ventilation. This single-center prospective cohort study was conducted in 6 ICUs of a university-affiliated tertiary hospital in Taiwan. A total of 267 delirium-free patients (aged ≥20 years) with critical illness receiving mechanical ventilation were consecutively enrolled from August 14, 2018, to October 1, 2020. Participants were assessed daily for the development of delirium and coma status over 14 days (or until death or ICU discharge) using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit and the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale, respectively. Mortality rates (14-day and in-hospital) and hospital LOS using electronic health records. Of 267 participants (median [IQR] age, 65.9 [57.4-75.1] years; 171 men [64.0%]; all of Taiwanese ethnicity), 149 patients (55.8%) developed delirium for a median (IQR) of 3.0 (1.0-5.0) days at some point during their first 14 days of ICU stay, and 105 patients (39.3%) had coma episodes also lasting for a median (IQR) of 3.0 (1.0-5.0) days. The 14-day and in-hospital mortality rates were 18.0% (48 patients) and 42.1% (112 of 266 patients [1 patient withdrew from the study]), respectively. The incidence and days of delirium were not associated with either 14-day mortality (incident delirium: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.37; 95% CI, 0.69-2.72; delirium by day: aHR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.91-1.10) or in-hospital mortality (incident delirium: aHR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.64-1.55; delirium by day: aHR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.97-1.07), whereas days spent in coma were associated with an increased hazard of dying during a given 14-day period (aHR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.10-1.22) and during hospitalization (aHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.14). The number of DCFDs was a protective factor; for each additional DCFD, the risk of dying during the 14-day period was reduced by 11% (aHR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.94), and the risk of dying during hospitalization was reduced by 7% (aHR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.97). Incident delirium was associated with longer hospital stays (adjusted β = 10.80; 95% CI, 0.53-21.08) when compared with no incident delirium. In this study, despite prolonged LOS, ICU delirium was not associated with short-term mortality. However, DCFDs were associated with a lower risk of dying, suggesting that future research and intervention implementation should refocus on maximizing DCFDs to potentially improve the survival of patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Clinical phenotypes of delirium in patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit

BackgroundLimited data are available on clinical phenotype for delirium that occurs frequently among patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical pictures of delirium, and their association with clinical outcomes in CICU patients.MethodsA total of 4,261 patients who were admitted to the CICU between September 1 2012 to December 31 2018 were retrospectively registered. Patients were excluded if they were admitted to the CICU for less than 24 hours or had missed data. Ultimately, 2,783 patients were included in the analysis. A day of delirium was defined as any day during which at least one CAM-ICU assessment was positive. The clinical risk factors of delirium were classified by the delirium phenotype, as follows; hypoxic, septic, sedative-associated, and metabolic delirium.ResultsThe incidence of delirium was 24.4% at the index hospitalization in all CICU patients, and 22.6% within 7 days after CICU admission. The most common delirium phenotype was septic delirium (17.2%), followed by hypoxic delirium (16.8%). Multiple phenotypes were observed during most delirium days. Delirium most frequently occurred in patients with heart failure. Of all patients affected by delirium within 7 days, both ICU and hospital mortality significantly increased according to the combined number of delirium phenotypes.ConclusionsDelirium occurred in a quarter of patients admitted to the modern CICU and was associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Therefore, more efforts are needed to reduce the clinical risk factors of delirium, and to prevent it in order to improve clinical outcomes in the CICU.

Prospective comparison of acupuncture with sham acupuncture to determine impact on sedation and analgesia in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients (PASSION study): protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionSedation and analgesia are recommended to be employed in the intensive care unit (ICU) to enhance patient comfort and safety, facilitate mechanical ventilation and reduce oxygen demands. However, the increasing...

Pediatric Delirium and All-Cause PICU Readmissions Within 1 Year.

Delirium in critically ill children is associated with increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the lingering effects of pediatric delirium in survivors after hospital discharge. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether children with delirium would have a higher likelihood of all-cause PICU readmission within 1 calendar year, when compared with children without delirium. Retrospective cohort study. Tertiary care, mixed PICU at an urban academic medical center. Index admissions included all children admitted between September 2014 and August 2015. For each index admission, any readmission occurring within 1 year after PICU discharge was captured. Every child was screened for delirium daily throughout the PICU stay. Among 1,145 index patients, 166 children (14.5%) were readmitted at least once. Bivariate analyses compared patients readmitted within 1 year of discharge with those not readmitted: complex chronic conditions (CCCs), increased severity of illness, longer PICU length of stay, need for mechanical ventilation, age less than 6 months, and a diagnosis of delirium were all associated with subsequent readmission. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to describe adjusted odds ratios for readmission. The primary exposure variable was number of delirium days. After controlling for confounders, critically ill children who experienced greater than 2 delirium days on index admission were more than twice as likely to be readmitted (adjusted odds ratio, 2.2; CI, 1.1-4.4; p = 0.023). A dose-response relationship was demonstrated as children with longer duration of delirium had increased odds of readmission. In this cohort, delirium duration was an independent risk factor for readmission in critically ill children. Future research is needed to determine if decreasing prevalence of delirium during hospitalization can decrease need for PICU readmission.

Study protocol to test the efficacy of self-administration of dexmedetomidine sedative therapy on anxiety, delirium, and ventilator days in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients: an open-label randomized clinical trial

BackgroundAdministration of sedative and opioid medications to patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support in the intensive care unit is a common clinical practice.MethodsA two-site randomized open-label clinical trial will test the efficacy of self-management of sedative therapy with dexmedetomidine compared to usual care on anxiety, delirium, and duration of ventilatory support after randomization. Secondary objectives are to compare self-management of sedative therapy to usual care on level of alertness, total aggregate sedative and opioid medication exposure, and ventilator-free days up to day 28 after study enrolment. Exploratory objectives of the study are to compare self-management of sedative therapy to usual care on 3- and 6-month post-discharge physical and functional status, psychological well-being (depression, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder), health-related quality of life, and recollections of ICU care. ICU patients (n = 190) who are alert enough to follow commands to self-manage sedative therapy are randomly assigned to self-management of sedative therapy or usual care. Patients remain in the ICU sedative medication study phase for up to 7 days as long as mechanically ventilated.DiscussionThe care of critically ill mechanically ventilated patients can change significantly over the course of a 5-year clinical trial. Changes in sedation and pain interventions, oxygenation approaches, and standards related to extubation have substantially impacted consistency in the number of eligible patients over time. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in mandated extended pauses in trial enrolment as well as alterations in recruitment methods out of concern for study personnel safety and availability of protective equipment. Patient triaging among healthcare institutions due to COVID-19 cases also has resulted in inconsistent access to the eligible study population. This has made it even more imperative for the study team to be flexible and innovative to identify and enrol all eligible participants. Patient-controlled sedation is a novel approach to the management of patient symptoms that may be able to alleviate mechanical ventilation-induced distress without serious side effects. Findings from this study will provide insight into the efficacy of this approach on short- and long-term outcomes in a subset of mechanically ventilated patients.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02819141. Registered on June 29, 2016.

Promoting Mobility in the Intensive Care Unit: An Educational Interprofessional Initiative.

Collaborative interprofessional practice is essential in the critical care arena to promote quality, safety, and positive outcomes for patients. An interprofessional educational activity focusing on early mobilization of intubated intensive care patients was undertaken with senior level nursing students and physical therapy students. Evidence demonstrates that these patients have improved functional outcomes, fewer days requiring mechanical ventilation, fewer days of delirium, and decreased length of stay both within the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital with early mobilization efforts. Students applied knowledge from the literature, clinical guidelines, and evidence-based practices in developing a plan of care to facilitate early mobility of the intensive care intubated patient. A structured debriefing session followed. Students developed a keen appreciation of collaborative, interprofessional, evidence-based care vital to patients who are intubated in the ICU. Student engagement in simulated interprofessional teams potentially influences their perceptions and attitudes about its benefits which are necessary for future professional practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2022;61(9):537-541.].

Plasma neurofilament light chain protein as a predictor of days in delirium and deep sedation, mortality and length of stay in critically ill patients.

SummaryBackgroundDelirium predicts poor outcomes, however identifying patients with the worst outcomes is challenging. Plasma neurofilament light protein (NfL) is a sensitive indicator of neuronal damage. We undertook an exploratory observational study to determine the association between plasma NfL and delirium in the critically ill.MethodsMoDUS was a randomised placebo-controlled delirium trial of simvastatin done in an UK adult general ICU. We measured NfL levels in plasma samples using a Single molecule array (Simoa) platform. We explored associations between patient's plasma NfL levels and number of delirium days, and clinical outcomes. The control group for baseline NfL were preoperative patients undergoing major surgery.FindingsThe majority of critically ill patients already had a high NfL level on admission. Patients with higher plasma NfL levels at days one and three spent more days in delirium or deep sedation. Patients with zero or one day in delirium or deep sedation had day one mean concentrations of 37.8 pg/ml (SD 32.6) compared with 96.5 pg/ml (SD 106.1)) for patients with two days or more, p-value 0.002 linear mixed effects model.Survivors discharged before 14 days had lower mean plasma NfL concentrations compared to those with longer hospital stays and/or who died within six months. The area under ROC curve for predicting death within six months using day one NfL was 0.81 (0.7,0.9).InterpretationMeasurement of plasma NfL within three days of admission may be useful to identify those patients with worse clinical outcomes, and as an enrichment strategy for future delirium interventional trials in the critically ill.FundingAlzheimer's Society UK, UK Dementia Research Institute.

The efficacy and safety of nurse-initiated sedation management in an intensive care unit: A two-phase prospective study in Japan.

This study aimed to evaluate whether nurse-initiated sedation management could provide more appropriate sedation compared to usual care in a Japanese intensive care unit (ICU). We conducted a single-center, prospective observational study before and after implementing nurse-initiated sedation using instruction sheets. Patients who had been admitted to a general adult ICU were enrolled. Before our ICU started nurse-initiated sedation (pre-implementation care), adjustment of sedatives and analgesics was performed only by a physician's written or verbal order; however, after implementing nurse-initiated sedation, nurses titrated drugs using instruction sheets. The primary outcome was the efficacy of nurse-initiated sedation, evaluated by the proportion achieving the target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score. The analgesic status evaluated by Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT), days of delirium, ventilator days, ICU mortality and hospital mortality were also evaluated. The study examined 30 patients in the pre-implementation care phase and 30 patients in the nurse-initiated sedation phase. The proportions achieving the target RASS were 68% in the nurse-initiated sedation group and 42% in the pre-implementation care group (mean difference, 25%; 95% confidence interval, 13.4%-37.5%; P <.001). Almost all measured CPOT were within the range of 0-3 during both phases. Days of delirium, ventilator days, ICU survival, and hospital survival did not differ significantly between the two groups. Nurse-initiated sedation management achieved a significantly higher degree of target sedation status and was incorporated as part of the care in our ICU. It is a safe approach in countries, such as Japan, where sedation protocols are not widely used.

Tracheostomy Is Associated With a Decrease in Delirium and Sedation for Intubated COVID-19 Patients.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) acute respiratory distress syndrome can experience prolonged periods of ventilation, high incidence of delirium, and require high amounts of sedation. Tracheostomy has been associated with earlier ventilator liberation, decreased sedation needs, and lower rates of delirium but optimal timing of tracheostomy remains unknown. Is tracheostomy associated with lower sedation requirements and lower incidence of delirium in patients with COVID-19 that are intubated? We retrospectively reviewed the first 32 patients at a large urban tertiary referral center that underwent tracheostomy for prolonged respiratory failure. We obtained Richmond Agitation Sedation-Scale scores and Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit data along with amount(s) and type(s) of sedating medications given, in the 7 days before and after tracheostomy. Proportion of days delirious and sedating medications were compared in the 7 days before and after tracheostomy. There was a significant decrease in the amount of opioids and benzodiazepines in the 7-day period following tracheostomy. Opioid dosing decreased by 157.5 morphine equivalents (SD=339, P =0.01) and benzodiazepine dosing decreased by 18 mg lorazepam equivalents (SD=34, P =0.01). There was no significant difference in antipsychotic or other sedative-hyponotic drug doses. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of days of coma or delirium (mean decrease in proportion=0.16, SD=0.32, P =0.008) following tracheostomy. Tracheostomy was associated with a significant decrease amount of sedating medications and with a decrease in proportion of days delirious following tracheostomy.

The effect of baseline cognition and delirium on long-term cognitive impairment and mortality: a prospective population-based study

SummaryBackgroundThere is an unmet public health need to understand better the relationship between baseline cognitive function, the occurrence and severity of delirium, and subsequent cognitive decline. Our aim was to quantify the relationship between baseline cognition and delirium and follow-up cognitive impairment.MethodsWe did a prospective longitudinal study in a stable representative community sample of adults aged 70 years or older who were registered with a Camden-based general practitioner in the London Borough of Camden (London, UK). Participants were recruited by invitation letters from general practice lists or by direct recruitment of patients from memory clinics or patients recently discharged from secondary care. We quantified baseline cognitive function with the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. In patients who were admitted to hospital, we undertook daily assessments of delirium using the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS). We estimated the association of pre-admission baseline cognitive function with delirium prevalence, severity, and duration. We assessed subsequent cognitive function 2 years after baseline recruitment using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Regression models were adjusted by age, sex, education, illness severity, and frailty.FindingsWe recruited 1510 participants (median age 77 [IQR 73–82], 57% women) between March, 2017, and October, 2018. 209 participants were admitted to hospital across 371 episodes (1999 person-days of assessment). Better baseline cognition was associated with a lower risk of delirium (odds ratio 0·63, 95% CI 0·45 to 0·89) and with less severe delirium (–1·6 MDAS point, 95% CI –2·6 to –0·7). Individuals with high baseline cognition (baseline Z score +2·0 SD) had demonstrable decline even without delirium (follow-up Z score +1·2 SD). However, those with a high delirium burden had an even larger absolute decline of 2·2 SD in Z score (follow-up Z score –0·2). Once individuals had more than 2 days of moderate delirium, the rates of death over 2 years were similar regardless of baseline cognition; a better baseline cognition no longer conferred any mortality benefit.InterpretationA higher baseline cognitive function is associated with a good prognosis with regard to likelihood and severity of delirium. However, those with a high baseline cognition and with delirium had the highest degree of cognitive decline, a change similar to the decline observed in individuals with a high amyloid burden in other cohorts. Older people with a healthy baseline cognitive function who develop delirium stand to lose the most after delirium. This group could benefit from targeted cognitive rehabilitation interventions after delirium.

Abstract TMP58: Rest-Activity Patterns In Post-Stroke Delirium: A Pilot Study

Background: Delirium is an acute cognitive disturbance frequently characterized by abnormal levels of motor activity and sleep-wake cycle disruption. However, the degree to which delirium affects activity patterns in the acute period after stroke is unclear. We aimed to examine these patterns in a cohort of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: We enrolled 40 patients with supratentorial ICH and hemiparesis who had daily delirium assessments performed by expert clinicians. Continuous measurements of activity were captured using bilateral wrist actigraphs for the duration of each patient’s admission. Activity data were collected in 1-minute intervals, with “rest” intervals defined as periods with zero activity recorded. We compared differences in activity based on delirium status across multiple time intervals using linear regression models adjusted for age, ICH severity, and mechanical ventilation. Results: There were 312 total days of actigraphy monitoring, of which 233 (75%) were rated as days with delirium; 85% of patients (34/40) experienced delirium during their hospitalization. In multivariable analyses, delirium days were associated with 66.3 (95% CI 9.4-123.2) fewer total minutes of rest, including 6.1% (95% CI 2.3-9.9%) fewer minutes of rest during daytime periods (06:00-21:59) and 9.2% (95% CI 3.3-15.0%) fewer minutes of rest during nocturnal periods (22:00-5:59). In separate analyses for individual hourly intervals, delirium days were associated with significantly higher levels of activity across multiple consecutive time intervals, including 05:00-09:00 and 17:00-03:00. In subgroup analyses, hyperactive or mixed delirium was associated with fewer total daily minutes of rest compared to hypoactive delirium, along with lower proportions of time at rest during both daytime and nocturnal periods (4.3% [95% CI 0.5-8.0%] and 6.5% [95% CI 0.9-12.1%] lower, respectively). Conclusion: Post-stroke delirium is associated with less rest and higher overall levels of activity, especially during nocturnal periods and in patients with hyperactive or mixed delirium.

The impact of ABCDE bundle implementation on patient outcomes: A nationwide cohort study.

The ABCDE bundle is a set of evidence-based practices to systematically reduce the risks of sedation, delirium, and immobility in intensive care patients. Implementing the bundle improves clinical outcome. To investigate the association between patient outcomes and compliance with bundle components ABC (analgosedation algorithms), D (delirium protocol), and E (early mobilization protocol). A Spanish multicentre cohort study of adult patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for ≥48 h until extubation. The primary outcome was pain level, cooperation to permit Medical Research Council Scale administration, patient days of delirium, and mobility. The secondary outcome was cumulative drug dosing by IMV days. Tertiary outcomes (ICU days, IMV days, bed rest days, ICU mortality, ICUAW) and independent variables (analgosedation, delirium, early mobilization protocols) were also studied. Data were collected from 605 patients in 80 ICUs and 5214 patient days with IMV. Two-thirds of the ICUs studied applied no protocols. Pain was not assessed on 83.6% of patient days. Patient cooperation made scale administration feasible on 20.7% of days. Delirium and immobility were found on 4.2% and 69.9% of days, respectively. Patients had shorter stays in ICUs with bundle protocols and fewer days of IMV in ICUs with delirium and mobilization bundle components (P=0.006 and P=0.03, respectively). Analgosedation protocols were associated with more opioid dosing (P=0.02), and delirium and early mobilization protocols with more propofol (P=0.001), dexmedetomidine (P=0.001), and lower benzodiazepine dosing (P=0.008). The implementation rate of ABCDE bundle components was very low in our Spanish setting, but when implemented, patients had a shorter ICU stay, more analgesia dosing, and lighter sedation. Applying some but not all the bundle components, there is increased analgesia and light sedation drug use, decreased benzodiazepines, and increased patient cooperation and mobility, resulting in a shorter ICU stay and fewer days of IMV.