Open AccessRisk factors of acute confusional syndrome in elderly hospitalized in the Hospital Reina Sofía of Murcia. Retrospective case and controls
Author(s) -
Juan Rodado,
Irine Aragon
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ciencia e innovación en salud
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2344-8636
DOI - 10.17081/innosa.57
Subject(s) - medicine , delirium , polypharmacy , dementia , retrospective cohort study , pediatrics , observational study , population , inclusion and exclusion criteria , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , disease , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology
Background: Acute confusional syndrome is a current problem of special relevance among elderlypatients admitted to hospital medical services. The determination of its risk factors is an essential process in the development and implementation of programs to prevent this complication. Methods: With the mentioned aim we have carried out this case-control study as an analytical, observational, retrospective and transversal study, whose source population was integrated by 60 patients over age 65 according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into two groups: with and without delirium. Discussion: Our analysis has confirmed the association between these factors and delirium: illness severity; previous history of Delirium (OR 10.6); mental status (OR 7.3); high risk medications (OR 6.9); renal failure (OR 6.5); medication at risk added (OR 6); physical status (OR 5.2); use of neuroleptics (OR5.1); anemia (OR 4.75); sodium alterations (OR 4.5); urinary catheter (OR 3.8); low albumin (OR 3.7); infection (OR 3.1). Conclusion: There is no relationship proved between acute confusional syndrom and the following factors: use of benzodiazepines, aggressive procedures, immobility, old age, dementia, diminished ADL skills, co-morbidity and polypharmacy, even if they have been identified as risk factors in previous studies. Hence, these results should be interpreted with caution.