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Prospective, multi-centric benchmark study assessing delirium: prevalence, incidence and its correlates in hospitalized elderly Lebanese patients

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Abstract

Background

With the increase in the proportion of elderly Lebanese patients, little is known about delirium’s prevalence, incidence and correlated factors.

Aims

To identify the prevalence, incidence and factors associated with overall and incident delirium in hospitalized elderly Lebanese patients.

Methods

A convenient sample was recruited from three university hospitals affiliated to the Lebanese university faculty of medical sciences. We included patients aged more than 65 years. Baseline factors were examined upon presentation and the confusion assessment method (CAM) was used to detect prevalent delirium upon admission or within the first 48 h. Enrolled patients were then assessed every other day to detect incident delirium cases.

Results

Among the 230 patients included, delirium prevalence was 17% and incidence 8.7%. We found that a history of falls (odds ratio (OR) = 5.12; p = 0.001), immobilization (OR = 7.33; p = 0.035), polypharmacy (OR = 5.07; p = 0.026) along with tachycardia (OR = 6.94; p = 0.03) and severe anemia (OR = 12.5; p = 0.005) upon admission were significant factors associated with overall delirium (incident and prevalent delirium cases). Whereas, living alone was significantly associated with lower odds for overall delirium (OR = 0.03; p = 0.02). Moreover, current smoking (OR = 14; p = 0.02), low oxygen saturation (OR = 9.6; p = 0.008) and severe anemia (OR = 8.4; p = 0.013) upon admission remained significantly associated with higher odds for incident delirium along with urine catheter placement (OR = 7.8; p = 0.015).

Conclusion

Secondary to the burden of delirium and its impact on mortality among elderly population, trying to understand and adjust modifiable factors would promote more appropriate prevention strategies.

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Funding

This research did not receive any funding or grants from any source.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Carmen Zrour, Ramzi Haddad & Wadih Naja

  2. Family Medicine Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Marouan Zoghbi

  3. Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Zahraa Kharsa & Mariam Hijazi

  4. Boulevard de Smet de Naeyer 414, Jette 1090, Brussels, Belgium

    Carmen Zrour

Authors
  1. Carmen Zrour
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  2. Ramzi Haddad
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  3. Marouan Zoghbi
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Correspondence to Carmen Zrour.

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This study has been approved by the institutional review board committees (IRB) of the involved hospitals and has therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1975 declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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A written informed consent was obtained from each patient or from a first degree family member.

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Zrour, C., Haddad, R., Zoghbi, M. et al. Prospective, multi-centric benchmark study assessing delirium: prevalence, incidence and its correlates in hospitalized elderly Lebanese patients. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 689–697 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01242-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01242-2

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