Delirium in Internal Medicine Intensive Care: An Overlooked Complication
Ozden Yıldirim Akan1, Pinar Ortan2, Ismail Demir11Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Ringgold Standard Institution, Izmir, Turkey, 2Department of Neurology, University of Health Sciences, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Ringgold Standard Institution, Izmir, Turkey
Objectives: The aetiology and risk factors of the patients that were diagnosed with delirium were investigated in this study. We aimed at revealing the risk factors for the development of delirium in intensive care unit. Methods: Patients that were participated in our study were assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method and examined by a neurologist for the existence of delirium. Patients with and without delirium were statistically compared with Student’s T-test and Chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors. Results: All of 283 patients with 143 (51%) female and 140 (49%) male were included in this study. Delirium was detected in 144 (51%) patients. Delirium was higher in patients with the history of neurological diseases and the usage of medications for the central nervous system (p=0.012). The most common reasons of the delirium were infections (97%) and electrolyte imbalances (80%). The length of stay was longer in the delirium group (p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study showed that the rates of delirium was high in ICU. We want to emphasize the importance of delirium in diagnose that can easily be overlooked by physicians. Keywords: Delirium, intensive care units, length of stay
Cite This Article
Yıldirim Akan O, Ortan P, Demir I. Delirium in Internal Medicine Intensive Care: An Overlooked Complication. EJMI. 2020; 4(4): 448-452
Corresponding Author: Ozden Yıldirim Akan