Identifying delirium in Parkinson disease: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Geriatrics
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Parkinson disease (PD) patients face heightened risks for delirium, a condition often underestimated due to overlapping symptoms.
• Delirium, characterized by confusion and inattention, is prevalent in older adults and can lead to adverse outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and incidence of delirium in hospitalized patients with Parkinson disease.
• To highlight the underdiagnosis of delirium in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• Inpatients with Parkinson disease were assessed for delirium using DSM-5 criteria during a 4-month period.
• Prevalence was measured at a single visit, while incidence captured cases throughout the hospital stay via clinical vignettes and consensus methods.

Main Results:

• Delirium prevalence was 34.0%, with incident cases reaching 56.6% during hospitalization.
• Patients with delirium were older, had higher frailty scores, and experienced longer hospital stays.
• Delirium was documented in only 14.8% of cases, indicating significant under-recognition.

Conclusions:

• Delirium is highly prevalent and increases during hospitalization in Parkinson disease patients.
• Routine screening for delirium throughout the hospital stay is essential for timely diagnosis and management.
• Future research should focus on frequent evaluations to detect emergent delirium in PD inpatients.