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Drug-induced confusional states: the usual suspects?
A Hufschmidt1, V Shabarin, T Zimmer
1Department of Neurology, Verbundkrankenhaus Bernkastel-Wittlich, Koblenzer Str. 91, D-54516, Wittlich, Germany. a.hufschmidt@t-online.de
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|October 7, 2009
Summary
Diuretics, dopaminergic drugs, and antidepressants are common causes of acute confusional state (ACS) in hospitalized patients. This condition is often linked to undiagnosed dementia.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Neurology
Background:
- Acute confusional state (ACS) is a common reason for hospital admissions.
- Identifying causative agents is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze the frequency of individual drugs implicated in drug-induced ACS.
- To identify the most common drug classes responsible for ACS.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of hospital admissions for acute confusion.
- Identification and categorization of causative drugs.
Main Results:
- Drug-induced ACS accounted for 18.8% of 346 admissions.
- Dopaminergic drugs (24.2%), diuretics (15.1%), and antidepressants (13.6%) were most frequent.
- Nearly half of patients had dementia, often undiagnosed.
Conclusions:
- Diuretics, via hyponatremia, are a significant cause of ACS.
- Drug-induced ACS is a considerable issue, particularly in patients with dementia.
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