Delirium in elderly inpatients in emergency units: a prospective study

ABSTRACT Objectives To determine the incidence of delirium in the elderly admitted to a tertiary hospital and to verify its distribution according to predictor variables. Methods Elderly patients admitted to the emergency room from April to September 2018 were included. The sample was characterized and the difference in the incidence of delirium within five days if hospitalization regarding the predictor variables was observed (Chi-square test, 5%). Results The sample consisted of 300 predominantly male participants (52%), aged 60-69 years (50.7%), eutrophic (49.3%) and with three or more pre-hospitalization diseases (42%). The incidence of delirium was 12% (95% CI 9-16). A statistically significant difference was observed in relation to the number of diseases prior to hospitalization (p = 0.025), the exit from bed during hospitalization (p < 0.001) and the use of bladder tube (p < 0.001). Conclusion The recognition of this disorder is fundamental in the emergency routine of hospitals, where patients with multiple chronic diseases are treated, as delirium commonly underdiagnosed, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality rates.