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Delirium in the NICU: A Point Prevalence Study
Elana J Siegel1, Alan M Groves2, Gabrielle Silver3
1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York elana.siegel@mountsinai.org.
Delirium is common in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants, affecting 22.4% of those screened. Invasive mechanical ventilation and neurologic disorders were linked to higher delirium rates in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Delirium is a frequent complication in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
- Infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are at risk for delirium.
- No prior studies have quantified delirium rates in neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of delirium in term neonates admitted to the NICU.
- To pilot the use of a validated pediatric delirium screening tool in a NICU setting.
Main Methods:
- A point prevalence study design was employed.
- Term or term-corrected infants in the NICU were screened using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD).
Main Results:
- 22.4% of screened infants (33 out of 147) tested positive for delirium.
- Delirium was significantly more common in infants on invasive mechanical ventilation (67%) and those with neurologic disorders (64%).
- Neurologic disability and mechanical ventilation were independently associated with delirium (aORs > 9).
Conclusions:
- Delirium appears to be prevalent in term-equivalent infants within the NICU.
- Further research is needed to confirm the feasibility, validity, and interrater reliability of delirium screening in this population.
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