Delirium Symptom Interview Research Articles

Incidence and assessment of delirium following open cardiac surgery; A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis sought i) to provide an overview of the incidence of delirium following open cardiac surgery and ii) to investigate how incidences of delirium are associated with different assessment tools. A systematic search of studies investigating delirium following open cardiac surgery were conducted in Medline (Ovid), EMBASE, PsycINFO, CiNAHL and the Cochrane Database. Only studies with patients diagnosed or screened with a validated tool were included. Studies published from 2005 to 2021 were included in the meta-analysis.Of 7,126 individual studies retrieved, 106 met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis, hereof 31% of high quality. The weighted pooled incidence of delirium following open cardiac surgery across all studies was 23% (95% CI 20-26%), however we found a considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 99%), which could not be explained by subgroups or further sensitivity analyses. The most commonly applied screening tool for delirium is CAM/CAM-ICU. The lowest estimates of delirium were found by applying the Delirium Observation Scale (incidence 14%, 95% CI 8-20%), and the highest estimates in studies using "other" screening tools (Organic Brain Symptom Scale, Delirium Symptom Interview) pooled incidence of 43%, (95% CI 19 - 66%), however, only two studies applied these. Delirium following open cardiac surgery remains a complication with a high incidence of overall 23%, when applying a validated tool for screening or diagnosis. Nevertheless, this systematic review and meta-analyses highlight the significant inconsistency in current evidence regarding assessment tools and regimens. Prospero CRD42020215519.

The Better Assessment of Illness Study for Delirium Severity: Study Design, Procedures, and Cohort Description

Background/Objectives: To describe the design, procedures, and cohort for the Better ASsessment of ILlness ­(BASIL) study, which is conducted to develop and test new delirium severity measures, compare them with existing measures, and examine related clinical outcomes. Methods: Prospective cohort study with 1 year follow-up of study participants at a large teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. After brief cognitive testing and the Delirium Symptom Interview, delirium and delirium severity were rated daily in the hospital using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and CAM-Severity score, the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R-98), and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS). Other key study variables included comorbidity, physical function (basic and instrumental activities of daily living [ADL]), ratings of subjective health and well-being, and clinical outcomes (length of stay, 30 day rehospitalization, nursing home admission, healthcare utilization). Follow-up interviews occurred at 1- and 12-month with patients and families. In 42 patient interviews, inter-rater reliability for key variables was assessed. Results: Of 768 eligible patients approached, 469 were screened and 352 enrolled, yielding an overall study response rate of 67% for potentially eligible participants. The mean participant was 80.3 years old (SD 6.8) and 203 (58%) were female. The majority of patients were medically complex with Charlson Comorbidity Scores ≥2 (192 patients, 55%), and 102 (29%) met criteria for dementia. Inter-rater reliability assessments (n = 42 pairs) were high for overall ratings of presence or absence of delirium by CAM (κ = 1.0), delirium severity by DRS-R-98 and MDAS (weighted kappa, κ = 1.0 for each) and for ADL impairment (κ = 1.0). For eligible participants at each time point, 278 out of 308 (90%) completed the 1-month follow-up and 132 out of 256 (53%) have completed the 12-month follow-up to date, which is still in progress. Among those who completed interviews, there was only 1–3% missing data on most major outcomes (delirium, basic ADL, and readmission). Conclusion: The BASIL study presents an innovative effort to advance the conceptualization and measurement of delirium severity. Unique strengths include the diverse cohort with complete high quality data and longitudinal follow-up, along with detailed collection of multiple delirium measures daily during hospitalization.

Response to Paul Regal

To the Editor: We appreciate this opportunity to clarify important aspects of our study1 in response to the letter from Dr. Paul Regal.2 First, we would like to emphasize that severe hearing impairment was an exclusionary criteria for the Successful Aging After Elective Surgery (SAGES) Study. Some study participants use hearing aids and were encouraged to use them during the interviews. In addition, the interviewers were carefully trained in communicating with older adults with hearing impairment and had portable amplifiers available for use as needed. Because baseline dementia was an exclusionary criterion for this study, we followed a careful, multistep process to exclude dementia, as follows: self- or clinician report of a dementia diagnosis, medical record diagnosis of dementia, or a baseline (preoperative) Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) score of less than 69 (or its education-adjusted equivalent).3 Individuals were also excluded for possible dementia after neuropsychological testing and clinical adjudication of all study results by an expert panel. The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) was used only for identification of delirium in the study and not as part of the dementia diagnosis process or for the course (improvement, worsening) or trajectory of postoperative cognitive decline. Long-term cognitive decline in this study is measured using the complete neuropsychological test battery, which is completed at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months and every 6 months thereafter. One of our primary outcome measures for cognitive functioning is our composite measure based on the neuropsychological test battery, which we refer to as our General Cognitive Performance score.4, 5 Although no studies have been published with this database examining reversibility of delirium, the SAGES Study has a wide range of delirium instruments to use for this purpose, including cognitive screening tests, digit spans, CAM, CAM-Severity, Delirium Symptom Interview, and Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale.3 We believe this study provides a valuable resource for examination of risk factors for and outcomes of postoperative delirium in older persons. Conflict of Interest: Neither of the authors report any conflicts of interest. Both authors fully disclose they have no financial interests, activities, relationships, and affiliations. The coauthors also declare they have no potential conflicts in the 3 years before submission of this manuscript. Supported by Grant P01AG031720 (SKI) from the National Institute on Aging. Author Contributions: Both authors contributed to this paper. Sponsor's Role: None.

Psychometric evaluation of the DMSS-4 in a cohort of elderly post-operative hip fracture patients with delirium.

Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome with considerable heterogeneity in clinical profile. Rapid reliable identification of clinical subtypes can allow for more targeted research efforts. We explored the concordance in attribution of motor subtypes between the Delirium Motor Subtyping Scale 4 (DMSS-4) and the original Delirium Motor Subtyping Scale (DMSS) (assessed cross-sectionally) and subtypes defined longitudinally using the Delirium Symptom Interview (DSI). We included 113 elderly patients developing DSM-IV delirium after hip-surgery [mean age 86.9 ± 6.6 years; range 65-102; 68.1% females; 25 (22.1%) had no previous history of cognitive impairment]. Concordance for the first measurement was high for both the DMSS-4 and original DMSS (k = 0.82), and overall for the DMSS-4 and DSI (k = 0.84). The DMSS-4 also demonstrated high internal consistency (McDonald's omega = 0.90). The DSI more often allocated an assessment to "no subtype" compared to the DMSS-4 and DMSS-11, which showed higher inclusion rates for motor subtypes. The DMSS-4 provides a rapid method of identifying motor-defined clinical subtypes of delirium and appears to be a reliable alternative to the more detailed and time-consuming original DMSS and DSI methods of subtype attribution. The DMSS-4, so far translated into three languages, can be readily applied to further studies of causation, treatment and outcome in delirium.

Psychometric Evaluation of the DMSS-4 in a Cohort of Elderly Post-operative Hip Fracture Patients with Delirium.

Introduction Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome with considerable heterogeneity in clinical profile. Rapid reliable identification of clinical subtypes can allow for more targeted and research efforts. Aims The aims of this study are to evaluate the concurrent validity (agreement) and reliability (internal consistency) of DMSS-4 in a new cohort of delirious hospitalised patients. Methods We explored the concordance in attribution of motor subtypes between the DMSS-4 and the original DMSS (assessed cross-sectionally) and subtypes defined longitudinally using the Delirium Symptom Interview (DSI) method. Results We included 118 elderly patients developing DSM-IV delirium after hip-surgery [mean age 87.0±6.5 years; range 65–102; 66% females; 28 (23.7%) had no previous history of cognitive impairment]. Concordance was high for both the DMSS-4 and original DMSS (k=0.80), and for the DMSS-4 and DSI methods (k=0.82). The DMSS-4 also demonstrated high internal consistency (McDonald's omega = 0.78). The DMSS-11 and DMSS-4 had higher inclusion for motor subtypes than the DSI method. Conclusions The DMSS-4 provides an ultra-rapid means of identifying motor-defined clinical subtypes of delirium and is a reliable alternative to the more detailed and time-consuming original DMSS and DSI methods of subtype attribution. The DMSS-4 can be readily applied to further studies of causation, treatment and outcome in delirium.

Cognitive decline in different delirium subtypes and the associated change in the biomarker S100B serum level

Objectives This study was designed to assess the cognitive decline in different delirium subtypes and the change in the level of serum S100B, with determination of the outcome of delirium. Background Delirium involves a wide range of cognitive disturbances across its different subtypes. The serum S100B level is high in delirious patients and plays a role in the process of learning and memory. The outcome of delirium differs according to delirium subtypes. Participants and methods This study enrolled 35 delirious patients (group A) and two control groups. Group B comprised 10 patients with disease but without delirium. Group C comprised 10 normal healthy individuals. All participants were subjected to the Delirium Symptom Interview scale, the Cognitive Test for Delirium, the Delirium Motor Subtype Scale, and the Trail Making Test parts A and B, and the level of serum S100B was measured. About 17 delirious patients were followed up after 1 month to assess the cognitive decline and the mortality rate. Results The level of cognitive dysfunction in delirious patients was significantly higher than that in the two control groups (group B and group C). The level of cognitive dysfunction was not significantly different among the four delirium subtypes. Attention impairment occurred in 96% of the patients, and the less affected cognitive domain was comprehension, which occurred in 77% of the patients. The level of serum S100B was significantly higher in delirious patients compared with the two control groups, but it was not significantly different among the delirium subtypes. After 1 month, the hypoactive subtype was associated with more cognitive dysfunction and a high mortality rate. Conclusion Cognitive decline occurs in delirious patients, but this decline was not significantly different among the delirium subtypes. The most affected cognitive domain was attention and the least affected one was comprehension. Delirium was associated with a high level of serum S100B, but this level was not significantly different among the delirium subtypes. The hypoactive subtype was associated with a poor outcome.

Delirium Signals Cognitive Risk After Heart Surgery

Delirium Signals Cognitive Risk After Heart Surgery

P01-482 - Delirium in older adults: assessment scales review

IntroductionDelirium is characterized by the rapid onset of symptoms which fluctuate, with an altered level of consciousness, global disturbance of cognition, perceptual abnormalities and evidence of a physical cause (DSM-IV-R, 2002).AimTo review the characteristics and psychometric properties of thirteen Delirium scales available in research and clinical practice.MethodsMEDLINE database was used to identify the delirium scales in use (1990–2010), using the keywords: delirium, confusion, questionnaires, scales, severity and screening. Only validation studies were included. Exclusion criteria were children and alcohol/drug delirium assessment scales. This study included seven screening scales: Confusion Assessment Method, Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, Delirium Symptom Interview, NEECHAM Confusion Scale, Cognitive Test for Delirium, Delirium Observation Screening, Nursing Delirium Screening Scale and seven severity scales: Delirium Rating Scale, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, Confusional State Evaluation, Delirium Severity Scale, Delirium Index and Delirium-O-Meter.ResultsThe majority of scales were based on the Diagnosis Statistical Manual Criteria as well as on a review of selected symptoms of Delirium informed by systematic clinical observation and formal brief assessment of mental status. In most of the studies, for psychometric analysis, the inter-rater reliability and validity with severity of Delirium assessment and cognitive screening tests were used.ConclusionBearing in mind the recent review studies included, we can conclude that CAM is the most widely used instrument for delirium assessment.

A systematic review of the reliability of screening for cognitive impairment in older adults by use of standardised assessment tools administered via the telephone

We conducted a systematic review to identify the extent to which the process of screening for cognitive impairment in older adults has been validated for administration by telephone. A search of electronic databases and a handsearch of relevant journals and reference lists were carried out for studies published between 1966 and 2008. The database search identified 411 studies and handsearching found another seven. Fourteen studies were finally identified as relevant to the review: three concerned a modified telephone version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); five concerned the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status; one study tested a telephone-administered Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire; four studies tested the validity of newly developed tools; and the remaining study considered the Confusion Assessment Method as a means of diagnosing delirium. The quality of the reference standard varied among the papers reviewed. The limited number of high quality studies with suitable reference standards makes it difficult to recommend a specific tool which should be used to assess the cognition of older adults by telephone. In advance of further studies, the 22-item MMSE is simple to administer and was shown to correlate well with the face-to-face MMSE. It appears to be a useful technique for telephone screening for cognitive impairment or delirium, if used in conjunction with the Delirium Symptom Interview.

Serum S100B in elderly patients with and without delirium

Elevation of S100B has been shown after various neurologic diseases with cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study was to compare the serum level of S100B of patients with and without delirium and investigate the possible associations with different subtypes of delirium. Acutely admitted medical patients aged 65 years or more were included from 2005 through 2008. Delirium was diagnosed by Confusion Assessment Method, delirium subtype by Delirium Symptom Interview and preexistent global cognitive function by the 'Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline-short form'. S100B levels were determined in serum by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Samples of 412 patients were included, 91 during delirium, 35 after delirium and 286 of patients without delirium. Patients with delirium (31%) were significantly older, 81.5 versus 76.6 years (p < 0.001) and experienced significantly more often preexistent cognitive and functional impairment (p < 0.001). S100B level differed significantly (p = 0.004) between the three groups: median 0.07 microg/L (inter-quartile ranges: 0.05-0.14 microg/L) during delirium, 0.12 microg/L (0.05-0.29 microg/L) after delirium and 0.06 microg/L (0.03-0.10 microg/L) in patients without delirium. Combining the impact of cognitive impairment, infection and age on S100B, highest S100B was observed in the oldest patients after delirium with preexistent cognitive impaired and infection. Delirium subtype and S100B level were not significantly correlated. Higher S100B levels were found in patients with delirium than in patients without delirium, with highest levels of S100B in samples taken after delirium. Future studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism responsible for the increase of S100B and the possible association with long term cognitive impairment.

Assessment Scales for Delirium

Delirium is a severe psychiatric syndrome that is highly prevalent in elderly general hospital patients. However, the diagnosis of delirium is often missed. The use of rating scales can be helpful in detecting and measuring delirium symptom severity. This article reviews recent developments regarding psychometric qualities, measurement goals, content and rating procedures of some of the available rating scales in clinical practice. Literature from the Medline files up to 2008 were collected, using the following search entries: delirium, (acute) confusion, assessment/rating scale and screening. Articles were selected if their title or summary were related to the development or applicability of delirium rating scales. The reference lists of relevant articles were searched for additional references. The rating scales were split up according to their purposes, screening or severity rating and were discussed for the following aspects: content (theoretical background, rating domains and items), interview (duration, format and assessors’ expertise) and psychometric qualities (reliability and validity). There were eight screening scales (Confusion Assessment Method [CAM], CAM for the Intensive Care Unit [CAM-ICU], Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist [ICDSC], Delirium Symptom Interview [DSI], NEECHAM Confusion Scale [NEECHAM], Cognitive Test for Delirium [CTD], Delirium Observation Screening [DOS] and Nursing Delirium Screening Scale [Nu-DESC]) and seven severity rating scales (Delirium Rating Scales [DRS], Memorial Delirium Assessment Scales [MDAS], Confusional State Evaluation [CSE], Delirium Severity Scales [DSS], Delirium Index [DI], Delirium-O-Meter [DOM] and Delirium Detection Scale [DDS] ) selected for further research. The CAM, NEECHAM and DOS and the CAM-ICU for the ICU appear to be the most suitable as screening instruments, depending on the type of rater (trained) physician or nurse. The (revised) Delirium Rating Scale (DRS-R-98) and the DOM appear to be particularly useful for measuring delirium severity or monitoring change.

Markers of cerebral damage during delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture

BackgroundS100B protein and Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) can increase due to brain cell damage and/or increased permeability of the blood-brain-barrier. Elevation of these proteins has been shown after various neurological diseases with cognitive dysfunction. Delirium is characterized by temporal cognitive deficits and is an important risk factor for dementia. The aim of this study was to compare the level of S100B and NSE of patients before, during and after delirium with patients without delirium and investigate the possible associations with different subtypes of delirium.MethodsThe study population were patients aged 65 years or more acutely admitted after hip fracture. Delirium was diagnosed by the Confusion Assessment Method and the subtype by Delirium Symptom interview. In maximal four serum samples per patient S100B and NSE levels were determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.ResultsOf 120 included patients with mean age 83.9 years, 62 experienced delirium. Delirious patients had more frequently pre-existing cognitive impairment (67% vs. 18%, p < 0.001). Comparing the first samples during delirium to samples of non-delirious patients, a difference was observed in S100B (median 0.16 versus 0.10 μg/L, p = < 0.001), but not in NSE (median 11.7 versus 11.7 ng/L, p = 0.97). Delirious state (before, during, after) (p < 0.001), day of blood withdrawal (p < 0.001), pre- or postoperative status (p = 0.001) and type of fracture (p = 0.036) were all associated with S100B level. The highest S100B levels were found 'during' delirium. S100B levels 'before' and 'after' delirium were still higher than those from 'non-delirious' patients. No significant difference in S100B (p = 0.43) or NSE levels (p = 0.41) was seen between the hyperactive, hypoactive and mixed subtype of delirium.ConclusionDelirium was associated with increased level of S100B which could indicate cerebral damage either due to delirium or leading to delirium. The possible association between higher levels of S100B during delirium and the higher risk of developing dementia after delirium is an interesting field for future research. More studies are needed to elucidate the role of S100B proteins in the pathophysiological pathway leading to delirium and to investigate its possibility as biomarker for delirium.

Time‐Course of Cytokines During Delirium in Elderly Patients with Hip Fractures

To compare the time-course of cytokine levels in patients with and without delirium and investigate differences in cytokine concentrations in delirium subtypes. Prospective cohort study. Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, 2005 through 2007. Patients aged 65 and older admitted for surgery after hip fracture. Experienced geriatric physicians used the Confusion Assessment Method to assess delirium and the Delirium Symptom Interview to assess delirium subtype. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12 were assayed in repeated serum samples using a cytometric bead array immunoassay. Of 221 admitted patients, 98 (mean age 84, 50 patients with delirium) were included, resulting in a total of 324 samples. Ninety-six percent of these samples had TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-10 levels below the reliable detection level. Differences between patients with and without delirium were observed in IL-6 (median 51 vs 36 pg/mL, P=.01) and IL-8 (median 15 vs 9 pg/mL, P=.03) levels. Changes over time in IL-6 and IL-8 levels in patients with delirium differed significantly from changes in levels in patients without delirium. The highest levels of IL-6 were present during delirium, and the highest levels of IL-8 were present before the development of delirium. Patients with the hyperactive (median 71 pg/mL) or mixed (median 73 pg/mL) subtype of delirium had higher IL-6 levels than patients with hypoactive delirium (median 16 pg/mL) (P=.02). IL-6 and IL-8 may contribute to the pathogenesis of postoperative delirium in elderly people. IL-6 may play a role in the hyperactive behavior of delirium.

Postoperative Delirium

Postoperative Delirium

A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) for reducing the incidence of postoperative delirium after elective total hip replacement

This was a pilot, phase 2a study to assess methodological feasibility and the safety and efficacy of donepezil in preventing postoperative delirium after elective total hip replacement surgery in older people without pre-existing dementia. The hypothesis was that donepezil would reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium. A double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group randomized trial was undertaken. Patients were block randomized pre-operatively to receive placebo or donepezil 5 mg immediately following surgery and every 24 h thereafter for a further three days. The main outcome was the incidence of delirium (using the Delirium Symptom Interview). The secondary outcome was length of hospital stay. Thirty-three patients (mean age 67 years; 17 males, 16 females) completed the study (19 donepezil, 14 placebo). Donepezil was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Postoperative delirium occurred in 21.2% of subjects. Donepezil did not significantly reduce the incidence of delirium. The unadjusted risk ratio (donepezil vs placebo) for delirium was 0.29 (95% CI = 0.06,1.30) (chi(2) ([1]) = 3.06; p = 0.08). Mean length of hospital stay was 9.9 days for the donepezil group vs 12.1 days in the placebo group; difference in means = -2.2 days (95% CI = -0.39,4.78) (t([31]) = 1.73: p = 0.09). The experimental paradigm was feasible and acceptable. Donepezil did not significantly reduce the incidence of delirium or length of hospital stay, however for both outcomes there was a consistent trend suggesting possible benefit. The sample size required for a definitive trial (99% power, alpha 0.05) would be 95 subjects per arm.

Reliability of a Structured Assessment for Nonclinicians to Detect Delirium Among New Admissions to Postacute Care

To evaluate the interrater reliability of a structured delirium assessment method for nonclinician interviewers in elderly patients newly admitted for postacute care. Prospective assessment using dyads of nonclinician raters. Postacute (Medicare) units at 6 skilled nursing facilities. Forty elderly patients newly admitted for postacute care from medical or surgical units at acute care hospitals. Subjects underwent dual delirium assessments within 5 days of admission. The standardized delirium assessment included the Mini-Mental Status Exam and Digit Span to assess overall cognitive function, the Delirium Symptom Interview to elicit specific delirium symptoms, the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale to measure the severity of delirium, and the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) to make the diagnosis of delirium. A coding protocol that linked observations to specific coding was used to improve reliability. The structured delirium assessment process produced very high interobserver agreement for all instruments. Kappa for agreement on delirium diagnosis was 0.95. Nonclinician interviewers using a structured delirium assessment achieved reliability that rivaled or exceeded that of trained clinical assessors in other studies. Nonclinicians may offer an effective alternative for the assessment of delirium among postacute patients in skilled nursing facilities.

Donepezil in the Prevention and Treatment of Post-Surgical Delirium

Delirium is a frequent complication of major surgery in older persons. The authors evaluated the possible benefit of donepezil versus placebo in the prevention and treatment of postoperative delirium in an older population without dementia undergoing elective total joint-replacement surgery. A sample of 80 patients participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of donepezil. Each participant was evaluated before surgery and then received donepezil or placebo for 14 days before surgery and 14 days afterward. Postoperative delirium was assessed with the Delirium Symptom Interview, Confusion Assessment Method, daily medical record, nurse-observation reviews, and DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for delirium. Subsyndromal delirium was also assessed for each participant. Delirium, diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, was found on at least 1 postoperative day in 18.8% of subjects, but there were no significant differences between the donepezil and placebo groups. When delirium was present, it lasted only 1 day, and there was no difference between the groups. Subsyndromal delirium was found on at least 1 postoperative day for 68.8% of subjects, and, when this occurred, lasted 2 days or less, on average. There was no difference between the groups in the occurrence or duration of subsyndromal delirium. There was no difference between the groups in disposition to home or to another facility. This pilot study was unable to demonstrate a benefit for donepezil in preventing or treating delirium in a relatively young and cognitively-intact group of elderly patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. Furthermore, postoperative delirium was not a major problem in this population.

Donepezil in the Prevention and Treatment of Post-Surgical Delirium

Objective Delirium is a frequent complication of major surgery in older persons. The authors evaluated the possible benefit of donepezil versus placebo in the prevention and treatment of postoperative delirium in an older population without dementia undergoing elective total joint-replacement surgery. Methods A sample of 80 patients participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of donepezil. Each participant was evaluated before surgery and then received donepezil or placebo for 14 days before surgery and 14 days afterward. Postoperative delirium was assessed with the Delirium Symptom Interview, Confusion Assessment Method, daily medical record, nurse-observation reviews, and DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for delirium. Subsyndromal delirium was also assessed for each participant. Results Delirium, diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, was found on at least 1 postoperative day in 18.8% of subjects, but there were no significant differences between the donepezil and placebo groups. When delirium was present, it lasted only 1 day, and there was no difference between the groups. Subsyndromal delirium was found on at least 1 postoperative day for 68.8% of subjects, and, when this occurred, lasted 2 days or less, on average. There was no difference between the groups in the occurrence or duration of subsyndromal delirium. There was no difference between the groups in disposition to home or to another facility. Conclusions This pilot study was unable to demonstrate a benefit for donepezil in preventing or treating delirium in a relatively young and cognitively-intact group of elderly patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. Furthermore, postoperative delirium was not a major problem in this population. Delirium is a frequent complication of major surgery in older persons. The authors evaluated the possible benefit of donepezil versus placebo in the prevention and treatment of postoperative delirium in an older population without dementia undergoing elective total joint-replacement surgery. A sample of 80 patients participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of donepezil. Each participant was evaluated before surgery and then received donepezil or placebo for 14 days before surgery and 14 days afterward. Postoperative delirium was assessed with the Delirium Symptom Interview, Confusion Assessment Method, daily medical record, nurse-observation reviews, and DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for delirium. Subsyndromal delirium was also assessed for each participant. Delirium, diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, was found on at least 1 postoperative day in 18.8% of subjects, but there were no significant differences between the donepezil and placebo groups. When delirium was present, it lasted only 1 day, and there was no difference between the groups. Subsyndromal delirium was found on at least 1 postoperative day for 68.8% of subjects, and, when this occurred, lasted 2 days or less, on average. There was no difference between the groups in the occurrence or duration of subsyndromal delirium. There was no difference between the groups in disposition to home or to another facility. This pilot study was unable to demonstrate a benefit for donepezil in preventing or treating delirium in a relatively young and cognitively-intact group of elderly patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. Furthermore, postoperative delirium was not a major problem in this population.

Characteristics associated with delirium persistence among newly admitted post-acute facility patients.

Delirium is costly, common, and may persist for weeks or months. Therefore, the adverse impact of delirium on loss of independence may occur in the post-acute setting rather than in the hospital. The purpose of this study is to describe the rate of delirium persistence and identify baseline patient characteristics that are associated with delirium persistence at 1 month among newly admitted post-acute facility patients who were admitted with delirium. Patients were recruited from 4 Boston area skilled nursing facilities specializing in post-acute care (PAC). Assessment instruments included the Confusion Assessment Method Diagnostic Algorithm, the modified Delirium Symptom Interview, the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), and the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale (BDRS). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify patient characteristics associated with delirium persistence (at 1 month). Nearly 51% of the 85 delirious patients enrolled in this study had delirium at their 1-month follow-up assessment. Four patient factors associated with delirium persistence were identified: older age (> or =85 years), severe delirium at PAC admission (MDAS score >15), prehospital cognitive impairment based on proxy report [BDRS], and the presence of all 8 modified Delirium Symptom Interview symptoms at PAC admission. Our model has very good predictive power (area under the receiver operating characteristic = 0.85). Delirium is persistent in the post-acute setting. If verified in further research, the risk factors found in this study could be used to identify patients who are likely to have delirium after 1 month, and may prove useful in developing and targeting interventions of care.

Delirium among newly admitted postacute facility patients: prevalence, symptoms, and severity.

Delirium may persist for weeks or months, and discharging elderly patients quickly from acute care facilities is not uncommon. Therefore, the adverse impact of delirium on loss of independence may occur in the postacute setting rather than in the hospital. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of delirium, delirium symptoms, and severity assessed at admission to postacute facilities. Subjects were recruited from seven Boston-area skilled nursing facilities specializing in postacute care. Assessment instruments included the Mini-Mental Status Exam, Delirium Symptom Interview, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, and Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) Diagnostic Algorithm. Delirium status was categorized into four groups: full, two or more symptoms, one symptom, and no delirium. Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square analyses and an analysis-of-variance were used to examine delirium characteristics by delirium group. Among 2158 subjects, approximately 16% had full CAM-defined delirium at admission to the postacute facility. In addition, nearly 13% of the subjects had two or more symptoms of delirium, approximately 40% had one delirium symptom, and 32% had no symptoms of delirium. In a comparison of the group with no symptoms of delirium with that with CAM-defined delirium, there was a significant trend toward (a) older age, (b) lower scores on the Mini-Mental Status Exam, (c) more Delirium Symptom Interview symptoms, and (d) higher Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale Scores. Results indicate that 16% of admissions to postacute facilities have CAM-defined delirium, and over two thirds had at least one delirium symptom. It is not known whether or not postacute staff have the training necessary to detect or manage delirium. Managing delirium may require different strategies and techniques in a postacute setting, thereby requiring further research.