Delirium: current trends in prevention and treatment

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Critical Care Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Delirium is a frequent and serious disturbance of consciousness and cognition in medically ill patients.
• It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality but is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
• Predisposing factors like dementia and advanced age contribute to delirium risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the published literature on the prevention and treatment of delirium.
• To highlight the underutilization of effective delirium prevention strategies.
• To discuss the role of risk assessment models in hospitalised patients.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of available published literature.
• Analysis of predisposing factors and acute stressors for delirium risk estimation.
• Evaluation of prevention strategies, including risk factor management and early detection.

Main Results:

• Delirium prevention strategies, though effective, are underutilized.
• Risk assessment models incorporating predisposing factors and stressors can estimate delirium risk.
• Limited data support specific pharmacological interventions for delirium treatment.

Conclusions:

• Effective delirium prevention methods require aggressive management of risk factors and early detection.
• Further research is needed to establish robust pharmacological treatments for delirium.
• Improved recognition and management of delirium are crucial for improving patient outcomes.