Delirium, Falls
Conditions
Keywords
Delirium, Primary Prevention, Elderly
Brief summary
Delirium is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome with an acute onset and fluctuating course which is presented in 15 to 20% of patients admitted to general wards. It is a potentially life - threatening complication which can be prevented. It is the objective of this randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether a multicomponent environmental intervention could reduce the incidence of delirium in a general medical ward.
Detailed description
A total of 287 patients 65 years of age or older who had been admitted to a general medicine ward and who were at risk of delirium were studied. Eligible patients were randomized to a multicomponent environmental intervention or standard care. Both groups were well balanced in patients characteristics and followed during the full hospital stay by a group trained in the application of the confusion assessment method to detect incident delirium.
Interventions
The environmental intervention consisted of daily reorientation, avoidance of sensorial deprivation, longer visiting hours, the availability of a clock, a calendar and the presence of familiar objects in the room.
OTHERStandard Care
Delirium management by the attending physician's preferences.
Sponsors
Universidad de Valparaiso
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Above 65 years of age and one of the following: * Age above 70 years. * Alcoholism * Cognitive deficit (Mini mental state examination \<24 points) * Metabolic disturbance (Hyponatremia, Hypernatremia, Hyperkalemia, Hypokalemia Hyperglycemia or Hypoglycemia)
Exclusion criteria
* Delirium at admission. * Admittance to a ward other than general internal medicine. * Lack of family support. * Informed consent refusal. * Hospitalization in a room with more than two beds.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Incidence of Delirium | Daily during the entire hospital stay (Average: 10 days, Maximum: 42 days) | New episodes of delirium during the hospital stay |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Incidence of Falls | Daily during the entire hospital stay (Average: 10 days, Maximum: 42 days | New episodes of Falls |
Countries
Chile
Outcome results
None listed