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Chapter 12 - Recognition, Management, and Prevention of Delirium

from Section II - Geriatric Syndromes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2022

Jan Busby-Whitehead
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Samuel C. Durso
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
Christine Arenson
Affiliation:
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Rebecca Elon
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Mary H. Palmer
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
William Reichel
Affiliation:
Georgetown University Medical Center
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Summary

Delirium is a serious neuropsychiatric condition characterized by an acute change in cognition and attention that affects a significant proportion of hospitalized older adults and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Prevention of delirium is an important part of the care of hospitalized older adults. The Hospital Elder Life Program is a multicomponent intervention that has been shown to reduce the incidence of delirium. As many cases of delirium are overlooked, its diagnosis is important and can be achieved using the Confusion Assessment Method, which relies on four cardinal features of delirium: acute onset, inattention, altered level of consciousness, and disorganized thinking. The etiology of delirium is often multifactorial with contributions from predisposing factors (such as sensory impairment, chronic illness, and cognitive impairment) and precipitating factors (such as infection, polypharmacy, or illness). Once diagnosed, delirium should be evaluated with a thorough history, complete physical, medication review, and targeted tests in an effort to identify these factors. Management should focus on addressing the noted precipitating and predisposing factors with limited use of low-dose antipsychotic medications in patients at risk of self-harm.

Type
Chapter
Information
Reichel's Care of the Elderly
Clinical Aspects of Aging
, pp. 129 - 138
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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