Pediatric delirium: epidemiology and outcomes

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Elana J Siegel1, Chani Traube2

  • 1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|October 26, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric delirium, a common issue in critically ill children, is linked to worse outcomes. Early screening and interventions like mobilization can reduce its prevalence, improving child health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Child neurology
  • Intensive care unit (ICU) management

Background:

  • Delirium is a common complication in children with serious medical conditions.
  • Pediatric delirium is associated with significant adverse outcomes, including prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality.
  • The long-term effects of pediatric delirium on cognitive function and quality of life are a growing concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent epidemiological data on pediatric delirium.
  • To discuss the outcomes associated with pediatric delirium.
  • To explore current prevention strategies for pediatric delirium.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes recent literature on pediatric delirium.
  • Data on epidemiology, outcomes, and prevention are analyzed.
  • Focus is on critically ill children in the intensive care unit setting.

Main Results:

  • Delirium affects over 25% of children in the pediatric ICU.
  • Pediatric delirium is linked to longer mechanical ventilation, extended hospital stays, higher costs, and increased mortality.
  • Initiatives such as universal screening, early mobilization, and reduced benzodiazepine use have shown success in lowering delirium rates.

Conclusions:

  • Universal screening for delirium in critically ill children is essential for early detection and management.
  • Identifying and addressing modifiable risk factors offers a pathway for effective delirium prevention.
  • Further large-scale longitudinal studies are required to understand the long-term consequences of pediatric delirium.
Abstract

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