Abstract

LAMA VALDIVIA, Jaime; VARELA PINEDO, Luis  and  ORTIZ SAAVEDRA, Pedro José. Prevalencia y factores de riesgo del estado confusional agudo en el adulto mayor en una sala de emergencias médicas. Rev Med Hered [online]. 2002, vol.13, n.1, pp.10-18. ISSN 1018-130X.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for delirium in elderly patients admitted to the emergency room of a national hospital. Material and methods: We studied all patients older than 60 years of age admitted to the emergency room of the Hospital Nacional Hipólito Unanue of Lima-Perú, between January and April, 2000. The Confusion Assessment Method was used as a test to assess delirium and diagnostic assessment included: several clinical and demographic variables, cognitive status ascertained using the Pfeiffer’s test, functional level ascertained using the Katz’s scala, depressive symptoms and nutritional status. We compared groups of patients with and without delirium through a stepwise logistic regression analysis. Results: At admission, 47 (42.7%) of 110 consecutive patients were diagnosed as delirious. The risk factors for delirium were: previous cognitive impairment (OR = 5.61; 95% CI, 1.65 - 19.03, p < 0.0001), functional dependence (OR = 6.18; 95% CI, 1.25 - 30.59, p < 0.001) and grave dehydration (OR = 4.22; 95% CI, 1.12 - 9.75, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Delirium is frequent in the elderly admitted to a emergency room. In our study, the risk factors for delirium were: previous cognitive impairment, low functional status and grave dehydration. (Rev Med Hered 2002; 13: 10-18).

Keywords : Delirium; risk factors; aging.

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