Comparison of hospital course and outcome in hospital-acquired vs pre-existing delirium

Joseph Guillory, Cecilia Fitz-Gerald, Antara Banik, Christopher Sterwald, Evelyn Ashiofu, Eleanore Knox, Mary Antoinette Muyco, Megan Verlage, Arqam Abdali, Patrick W. O'Malley, Amelia Rezai, Paul Bush, E. Sherwood Brown, Carol S North

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a major source of morbidity in the inpatient hospital setting. This study examined differences between patients with delirium present prior to hospital admission and those with hospital-acquired delirium in several health outcomes. METHODS: A total of 12,529 patients on 2 inpatient units were included in this retrospective cohort study. Outcomes were assessed using chart review. Other variables were compared across groups and included in multivariate models predicting discharge location within the hospital-acquired delirium group. RESULTS: Of 709 patients with delirium, 83% had pre-admission prevalent and 17% had post-admission incident delirium. Compared with patients with preexisting delirium, patients with hospital-acquired delirium had greater hospital durations and mortality and were more likely to receive ICU care, more likely to receive multiple classes of medications, and less likely to be discharged home without home health services. Multivariate analysis in the hospital-acquired delirium group found that several variables independently predicted discharge location. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hospital-acquired delirium had worse hospital outcomes and a more complicated hospital course than those with preexisting delirium. Administration of various medications, several demographic variables, and some hospital-related variables were independently associated with worse outcomes within the hospital-acquired delirium group. These results demonstrate that patients with hospital-acquired delirium are a vulnerable subgroup deserving special attention.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)35-44
Number of pages10
JournalAnnals of Clinical Psychiatry
Volume33
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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