Risk Factors for Delirium in Trauma Elderly Patients: An Analysis Using the National Trauma Data Bank From 2021 to...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Trauma Surgery
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Delirium is a prevalent, serious, and often underdiagnosed condition in elderly hospitalized patients.
• Adverse outcomes are associated with delirium, highlighting the need for better understanding in specific populations.
• There is a critical knowledge gap regarding delirium risk factors in trauma patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the risk factors associated with delirium in elderly trauma patients.
• To investigate the prevalence and predictors of delirium in this demographic.
• To inform strategies for improved recognition, prevention, and management of delirium in trauma care.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the National Trauma Data Bank (2021-2022) for a cohort of patients aged 65 and above.
• Employed descriptive statistics to characterize the study population and assess crude associations.
• Conducted logistic regression analysis to determine significant risk factors for delirium.

Main Results:

• The study included 822,591 elderly trauma patients, with a delirium prevalence of 2.3%.
• Significant risk factors for delirium included a history of dementia (OR 1.67), functional dependency (OR 1.61), bleeding disorder (OR 1.60), and male sex (OR 1.49).
• Hispanic ethnicity was associated with lower delirium odds (OR 0.53), and transfer from another facility was not a significant independent factor.

Conclusions:

• Delirium appears underdiagnosed in elderly trauma patients, evidenced by low documented prevalence.
• Identified risk factors, particularly variations by sex and ethnicity, may point to diagnostic disparities.
• Enhanced detection across diverse populations is crucial for reducing delirium incidence, severity, and improving patient outcomes.