Better healthcare management can reduce risk of delirium among older adults

Elderly patients with neurological conditions are significantly more likely to develop delirium shortly after they are hospitalised. A recent study has discovered that a delayed transfer to a hospital floor is associated with a greater short-term risk of delirium among patients aged 65 and over, and for those who arrive at the Emergency Department (ED) on days with a higher risk of prolonged lengths of stay -- found to be Sunday and Tuesday. Delirium is an acute cognitive disorder characterised by altered awareness, attentional deficits, confusion, and disorientation.

Current estimates of new-onset delirium highlight the fact that delirium overwhelmingly develops in medical settings (as high as 82 per cent in intensive care settings) compared to the community at large (between one per cent and two per cent). Research has shown that between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of all delirium cases are preventable.