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Outcomes in delirium: same but different

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2014

Robert Renjel  and
Eamonn Eeles
Robert Renjel*
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, Ochsner Clinical School, Jefferson, USA
Eamonn Eeles
Affiliation:
University of Queensland and the Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Robert Renjel, The University of Queensland, Ochsner Clinical School, 1514 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, LA 70121, USA. Email: Robert.renjel@uqconnect.edu.au
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Summary

Delirium has been associated with institutionalization, increased length of hospital stay, cognitive and functional decline and mortality. Research in the last thirty years has recognized that accurate diagnostic criteria allow for targeted interventions for those suffering from delirium. However, despite the advances made in understanding delirium, adverse outcomes persist.

This article will first review how the evolution of diagnostic criteria has fostered improvements in the recognition of delirium and facilitated the development of therapeutic strategies. Second, we discuss how this foundation in approach to delirium has influenced outcomes and the evidence for causality. Finally, the candidate factors responsible for propagating adverse events are considered and future research direction outlined.

Keywords

deliriuminstitutionalizationmortalityinpatientsoutcome assessment
Type
Review Article
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , August 2014 , pp. 182 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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