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Recipe for primary prevention of delirium in hospitalized older patients

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Abstract

Delirium is an acute fluctuating syndrome characterized by a change in consciousness, perception, orientation, cognition, sleep–wake rhythm, psychomotor skills, and the mood and feelings of a patient. Delirium and delirium prevention remain a challenge for healthcare professionals, especially nurses who form the basis of patient care. It also causes distress for patients, their caregivers and healthcare professionals. However, delirium is preventable in 30–40% of cases. The aim of this article is to summarize the delirium risk models, delirium screening tools, and (non-pharmacological) delirium prevention strategies. A literature search of review articles supplemented by original articles published in PubMed, Cinahl, and Cochrane between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2020 was carried out. Among the older patients, delirium is a common condition with major consequences in terms of mortality and morbidity, but prevention is possible. Despite the fact that delirium risk models, delirium screening scales and non-pharmacological prevention are available for the development of a hospital delirium prevention programme, such a programme is still not commonly used on a daily basis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Spaarne Gasthuis Haarlem, Boerhavelaan 22, 2035 RC, Haarlem, The Netherlands

    Ralph Vreeswijk & Kees J. Kalisvaart

  2. Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Andrea B. Maier

  3. Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Centre for Healthy Longevity, @AgeSingapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore

    Andrea B. Maier

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  1. Ralph Vreeswijk
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Correspondence to Ralph Vreeswijk.

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Vreeswijk, R., Maier, A.B. & Kalisvaart, K.J. Recipe for primary prevention of delirium in hospitalized older patients. Aging Clin Exp Res 34, 2927–2944 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-022-02249-y

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