A multicomponent intervention to prevent delirium in hospitalized older patients

Melatonin for the prevention of postoperative delirium in older adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a major cause of morbidity, particularly in elderly patients. Melatonin has been suggested as a low-risk pharmacological intervention to help prevent POD. A previous systematic review found limited high-quality evidence to support the use of melatonin in the prevention of POD. Several further randomised studies have since been published. This systematic review aims to synthesise the evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effect of melatonin on the prevention of POD in older adults.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A systematic search of RCTs of melatonin (any dose and formulation) in POD will be run across Embase, Medline, CINAHL and PsychInfo. RCTs published from January 1990 until the end of February 2022 and reporting outcomes for melatonin use to prevent POD in patients will be included. Screening of search results and data extraction from included articles will be performed by two independent reviewers. The primary outcome will be incidence of POD in older adults undergoing surgery. Secondary outcomes are delirium duration and length of hospital stay. The review will also describe the dosage, timing and administration regimes of melatonin therapy and as well as the scales and definitions used to describe POD. A registry review of ongoing trials will be also be performed. For the meta-analysis, data will be pooled using a random effects model to generate a forest plot and obtain an odds ratio (OR) for the incidence of POD. Results will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No ethical approval is required. This review will be disseminated via peer-reviewed manuscript and conferences. The results will be used as the basis of work to optimise this intervention for future trials in surgical populations.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021285019).

The impact of regional versus general anesthesia on postoperative neurocognitive outcomes in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Randomized trials have shown conflicting results regarding differences in outcomes according to anesthesia type on the prevalence of postoperative delirium (POD) or postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in hip surgery patients. The aim of this Meta analysis is to compare the effect of general and regional anesthesia in older patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

METHODS

A literature search for meta-analysis was performed using Pubmed, The Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science citation index for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the regional anesthesia (RA) to general anesthesia (GA) for postoperative outcomes in elderly undergoing hip fracture surgery till June 2022. The primary outcomes were the incidence of POD or POCD at 24 h, 3 days and 7 days postoperatively. The secondary outcomes were 30 days mortality rate and other adverse events. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane methodology.

RESULTS

Eight studies including 3555 elderly patients over 65 years old showed that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of POD or POCD between RA and GA at 24 h [OR 0.73; 95% coincidence interval (CI) 0.19, 2.71, I2 = 53%; n = 452; P = 0.63], at 3 days [OR 1.03; 95% CI 0.79, 1.35, I2 = 0%; n = 1362; P = 0.82], at 7 days [OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.41, 1.52, I2 = 51%; n = 1336; P = 0.47], respectively. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of other adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant difference was found in the incidence of cognitive dysfunction after either general or regional anesthesia in elderly patients. Our finding of similar outcomes at 24 h, 3 days and 7 days postoperatively with either technique suggests that anesthesia choices for hip-fracture surgery may be based on the individual characteristics of each patient rather than on anticipated differences in clinical outcomes.

The inter-relationship between delirium and dementia: the importance of delirium prevention

Delirium and dementia are two frequent causes of cognitive impairment among older adults and have a distinct, complex and interconnected relationship. Delirium is an acute confusional state characterized by inattention, cognitive dysfunction and an altered level of consciousness, whereas dementia is an insidious, chronic and progressive loss of a previously acquired cognitive ability. People with dementia have a higher risk of developing delirium than the general population, and the occurrence of delirium is an independent risk factor for subsequent development of dementia. Furthermore, delirium in individuals with dementia can accelerate the trajectory of the underlying cognitive decline. Delirium prevention strategies can reduce the incidence of delirium and associated adverse outcomes, including falls and functional decline. Therefore, delirium might represent a modifiable risk factor for dementia, and interventions that prevent or minimize delirium might also reduce or prevent long-term cognitive impairment. Additionally, understanding the pathophysiology of delirium and the connection between delirium and dementia might ultimately lead to additional treatments for both conditions. In this Review, we explore mechanisms that might be common to both delirium and dementia by reviewing evidence on shared biomarkers, and we discuss the importance of delirium recognition and prevention in people with dementia.

In this Review, Fong and Inouye explore mechanisms that might be common to both delirium and dementia. They present delirium as a possible modifiable risk factor for dementia and discuss the importance of delirium prevention strategies in reducing this risk.

Delirium and dementia are frequent causes of cognitive impairment among older adults and have a distinct, complex and interconnected relationship.

Delirium prevention strategies have been shown to reduce not only the incidence of delirium but also the incidence of adverse outcomes associated with delirium such as falls and functional decline.

Adverse outcomes associated with delirium, such as the onset of dementia symptoms in individuals with preclinical dementia, and/or the acceleration of cognitive decline in individuals with dementia might also be delayed by the implementation of delirium prevention strategies.

Evidence regarding the association of systemic inflammatory and neuroinflammatory biomarkers with delirium is variable, possibly as a result of co-occurring dementia pathology or disruption of the blood–brain barrier.

Alzheimer disease pathology, even prior to the onset of symptoms, might have an effect on delirium risk, with potential mechanisms including neuroinflammation and gene–protein interactions with the APOE ε4 allele.

Novel strategies, including proteomics, multi-omics, neuroimaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG, are beginning to reveal how changes in cerebral blood flow, spectral power and connectivity can be associated with delirium; further work is needed to expand these findings to patients with delirium superimposed upon dementia.

Derivation and validation of a prediction score for postoperative delirium in geriatric patients undergoing hip fracture surgery or hip arthroplasty

Introduction

Postoperative delirium is a common complication of patients undergoing hip fracture surgery or arthroplasty and is related to decreased survival time and physical function. In this study, we aim to build and validate a prediction score of postoperative delirium in geriatric patients undergoing hip fracture surgery or hip arthroplasty.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of geriatric patients undergoing hip fracture surgery or hip arthroplasty was established. Variables of included patients were collected as candidate predictors of postoperative delirium. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and logistic regression were used to derive a predictive score for postoperative delirium. The accuracy of the score was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating curve (ROC). We used bootstrapping resamples for model calibration. The prediction score was validated in an extra cohort.

Results

There were 1,312 patients in the derivation cohort, and the incidence of postoperative delirium was 14.33%. Of 40 variables, 9 were identified as predictors, including preoperative delirium, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with the modified Rankin scale, diabetes with a random glucose level, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), age, application of benzodiazepines in surgery, surgical delay ≥2 days, creatine ≥90 μmol/L, and active smoker. The prediction score achieved a mean AUC of 0.848 in the derivation cohort. In the validation cohort, the mean AUC was 0.833. The prediction model was well-calibrated in the two cohorts.

Conclusion

Based on retrospective data, a prediction score for postoperative delirium in geriatric patients undergoing hip fracture surgery or hip arthroplasty was derived and validated. The performance of the scoring system outperformed the models from previous studies. Although the generalization ability of the score needs to be tested in similar populations, the scoring system will enable delirium risk stratification for hip fracture patients and facilitate the development of strategies for delirium prevention.

Proposing a Scientific and Technological Approach to the Summaries of Clinical Issues of Inpatient Elderly with Delirium: A Viewpoint

Background/rationale: Despite mounting evidence about delirium, this complex geriatric syndrome is still not well managed in clinical contexts. The aging population creates a very demanding area for innovation and technology in healthcare. For instance, an outline of an aging-friendly healthcare environment and clear guidance for technology-supported improvements for people at delirium risk are lacking. Objective: We aimed to foster debate about the importance of technical support in optimizing healthcare professional practice and improving the outcomes for inpatients’ at delirium risk. We focused on critical clinical points in the field of delirium worthy of being addressed by a multidisciplinary approach. Methods: Starting from a consensus workshop sponsored by the Management Perfectioning Course based at the Marco Biagi Foundation (Modena, Italy) about clinical issues related to delirium management still not addressed in our healthcare organizations, we developed a requirements’ analysis among the representatives of different disciplines and tried to formulate how technology could support the summaries of the clinical issues. We analyzed the national and international panorama by a PubMed consultation of articles with the following keywords in advanced research: “delirium”, “delirium management”, “technology in healthcare”, and “elderly population”. Results: Despite international recommendations, delirium remains underdiagnosed, underdetected, underreported, and mismanaged in the acute hospital, increasing healthcare costs, healthcare professionals’ job distress, and poor clinical outcomes. Discussion: Although all healthcare professionals recognize delirium as a severe and potentially preventable source of morbidity and mortality for hospitalized older people, it receives insufficient attention in resource allocation and multidisciplinary research. We synthesized how tech-based tools could offer potential solutions to the critical clinical points in delirium management.

Optimal Emergency Department Care Practices for Persons Living With Dementia: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVES

To summarize research on optimal emergency department (ED) care practices for persons living with dementia (PLWDs) and develop research priorities.

DESIGN

Systematic scoping review.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

PLWDs in the ED.

METHODS

The following Patient-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome (PICO) questions were developed: PICO 1, What components of emergency department care improve patient-centered outcomes for persons with dementia? PICO 2, How do emergency care needs for persons with dementia differ from other patients in the emergency department? A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and presented to the Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research 2.0 Advancing Dementia Care network to inform research priorities.

RESULTS

From the 6348 publications identified, 23 were abstracted for PICO 1 and 26 were abstracted for PICO 2. Emergency care considerations for PLWDs included functional dependence, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and identification of and management of pain. Concerns regarding ED care processes, the ED environment, and meeting a PWLD's basic needs were described. A comprehensive geriatric assessment and dedicated ED unit, a home hospital program, and a low-stimulation bed shade and contact-free monitor all showed improvement in patient-centered or health care use outcomes. However, all were single-site studies evaluating different outcomes. These results informed the following research priorities: (1) training and dementia care competencies; (2) patient-centric and care partner-centric evaluation interventions; (3) the impact of community- and identity-based factors on ED care for PLWDs; (4) economic or other implementation science measures to address viability; and (5) environmental, operational, personnel, system, or policy changes to improve ED care for PLWDs.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

A wide range of components of both ED care practices and ED care needs for PLWDs have been studied. Although many interventions show positive results, the lack of depth and reproducible results prevent specific recommendations on best practices in ED care for PLWDs.

A Quality Improvement Study on Delirium Awareness Day: In Pursuit of Missed Delirium Diagnoses

The current study aimed to screen for delirium in hospitalized older adults and assess the validity of the Turkish version of the 4A's Test (4AT-TR) as a feasible tool to integrate in routine patient care. The point prevalence of delirium according to clinical evaluation in routine practice was detected among all patients aged ≥60 years in 12 pilot wards. Delirium screening was then conducted by two arms: (a) nurses using the 4AT-TR and (b) geriatricians according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria. Prevalence of delirium according to clinical impression was 3.3% (n = 4), whereas prevalence was 12.4% (n = 17) according to DSM-5 criteria and 13.8% (n = 17) according to the 4AT-TR. The 4AT-TR performed by nurses had a sensitivity of 66.6% and specificity of 93.5%. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for delirium diagnosis was 0.819 (p < 0.001). Most delirium cases remain undetected unless a routine and formal delirium assessment is integrated in hospital care of high-risk patients. The 4AT-TR performed by nurses seems to be a valid tool for determining delirium in hospitalized older adults. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(8), 43-51.].

Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Elective Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery at Primary and Secondary Hospitals in Low-Middle-Income Countries (LMIC's): Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society Recommendation

BACKGROUND

This is the first Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society guideline for primary and secondary hospitals in low-middle-income countries (LMIC's) for elective abdominal and gynecologic care.

METHODS

The ERAS LMIC Guidelines group was established by the ERAS® Society in collaboration with different representatives of perioperative care from LMIC's. The group consisted of seven members from the ERAS® Society and eight members from LMIC's. An updated systematic literature search and evaluation of evidence from previous ERAS® guidelines was performed by the leading authors of the Colorectal (2018) and Gynecologic (2019) surgery guidelines (Gustafsson et al in World J Surg 43:6592-695, Nelson et al in Int J Gynecol Cancer 29(4):651-668). Meta-analyses randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective and retrospective cohort studies from both HIC's and LMIC's were considered for each perioperative item. The members in the LMIC group then applied the current evidence and adapted the recommendations for each intervention as well as identifying possible new items relevant to LMIC's. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system (GRADE) methodology was used to determine the quality of the published evidence. The strength of the recommendations was based on importance of the problem, quality of evidence, balance between desirable and undesirable effects, acceptability to key stakeholders, cost of implementation and specifically the feasibility of implementing in LMIC's and determined through discussions and consensus.

RESULTS

In addition to previously described ERAS® Society interventions, the following items were included, revised or discussed: the Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC), preoperative routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in countries with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS (CD4 and viral load for those patients that are HIV positive), delirium screening and prevention, COVID 19 screening, VTE prophylaxis, immuno-nutrition, prehabilitation, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and a standardized postoperative monitoring guideline.

CONCLUSIONS

These guidelines are seen as a starting point to address the urgent need to improve perioperative care and to effect data-driven, evidence-based care in LMIC's.

Clinical and Epidemiological Approach to Delirium in an Acute Care Unit: A Cross-Sectional Study

During hospital admissions, the union of various factors, those related to acute pathology, dependency conditions, cognitive impairment, change of habitual environment, and others, can cause delirium. Acute delirium in the elderly (ADE) occurs in around a third of patients over 70 years of age. The syndrome generates serious complications that increase hospital morbidity and mortality and a high cost for the health administration. This study aimed to determine the clinical and epidemiological profile of ADE in an internal medicine unit. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a convenience test. A total of 356 patients participated between September and November 2021. Sociodemographic variables, predisposing and precipitating factors of ADE, methods of action against ADE, and the impact on functional and cognitive deterioration were analyzed. A total of 35.1% of the patients developed ADE, mostly of the hyperactive type and of nocturnal appearance. ADE was mainly treated with psychoactive drugs and 22% required mechanical restraint, with non-pharmacological preventive strategies, support, and caregiver training being the main tools for controlling ADE during hospital admission.

Intervention of Coordination by Liaison Nurse Where Ward Staff Struggled to Establish a Therapeutic Relationship with a Patient Because of Failure to Recognize Delirium: A Case Study

In this case study, ward staff found it difficult to establish a therapeutic relationship with a patient with advanced gastric cancer because they misdiagnosed delirium as a psychogenic reaction to the cancer diagnosis. This article reports on the process and effects of intervention by a liaison nurse. The liaison nurse recognized the misdiagnosis and approached the ward staff via a psychiatrist-led team. This enabled rapid revision of the treatment policy. The liaison nurse contributed to the continuation of treatment by enabling the ward staff and patient to understand each other better and to collaborate to build a relationship and control the patient’s mental health symptoms, including attention disorder and excessive demands. The patient and family had different views on discharge because of the patient’s mental health issues. The liaison nurse encouraged the ward staff to inform the family caregiver about the patient’s medical condition, the expected future course of the disease, and likely symptoms, and provide appropriate professional services. This enabled the patient to be discharged in line with their wishes. This case highlights the role of the liaison nurse in coordinating care and helping ward staff to recognize symptoms and provide appropriate care and support for patients and their families.

Perioperative Hemodynamic Optimization in Patients at Risk for Delirium - A Randomized-Controlled Trial

Background

Post-operative delirium is common in elderly patients and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We evaluated in this pilot study whether a perioperative goal-directed hemodynamic optimization algorithm improves cerebral oxygenation and can reduce the incidence of delirium.

Materials and Methods

Patients older than 70 years with high risk for post-operative delirium undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery were randomized to an intervention or control group. Patients in the intervention group received a perioperative hemodynamic optimization protocol based on uncalibrated pulse-contour analysis. Patients in the control group were managed according to usual standard of care. Incidence of delirium until day seven was assessed with confusion assessment method (CAM) and chart review. Cerebral oxygenation was measured with near-infrared spectroscopy.

Results

Delirium was present in 13 of 85 (15%) patients in the intervention group and 18 of 87 (21%) in the control group [risk difference -5.4%; 95% confidence interval, -16.8 to 6.1%; P = 0.47]. Intervention did not influence length of stay in hospital or in-hospital mortality. Amounts of fluids and vasopressors applied, mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, and near-infrared spectroscopy values were comparable between groups.

Conclusion

The hemodynamic algorithm applied in high-risk non-cardiac surgery patients did not change hemodynamic interventions, did not improve patient hemodynamics, and failed to increase cerebral oxygenation. An effect on the incidence of post-operative delirium could not be observed.

Clinical Trial Registration

[Clinicaltrials.gov], identifier [NCT01827501].

Association between Baseline Cognitive Score and Postoperative Delirium in Parkinson’s Disease Patients following Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery

Background

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nuclei (STN-DBS) is a standard treatment option for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Delirium following DBS electrode implantation is common, by several studies, and cognitive impairment is a risk factor for developing postoperative delirium (POD). This prospective observational study was conducted to identify whether preoperative baseline cognitive status has an association with POD in PD patients undergoing DBS surgery.

Methods

Preoperatively, neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological assessments of the patients were performed including clinical dementia rating (CDR) score, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) score, mini-mental state exam (MMSE) score, Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) score, Hamilton anxiety (HAMA) and Hamilton depression (HAMD) scores, and numerical cancellation test. POD was identified by the confusion assessment method (CAM) twice per day on postoperative day 1 until discharge.

Results

Twenty-seven (21.6%) of 125 patients developed POD. Among the variables screened, age, CDR score, MMSE score, and HAMA score were indicated to be independent influence factors of POD. The cutoff score, AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of age, CDR score, MMSE score, and HAMA score associated with POD was 58.5, 0.751, 92.6%, 52.0%; 0.5, 0.848, 77.8%, 91.8%; 27.5, 0.827, 88.9%, 62.2%; and 12.5, 0.706, 85.2%, 54.1%, respectively.

Conclusions

We observed age, CDR score, MMSE score, and HAMA score were independent influence factors of POD in PD patients who received DBS. It is necessary to assess the cognitive status of PD patients before surgery to identify high-risk patients.

Depression is associated with delirium after cardiac surgery-a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Depression is common in patients with cardiac disease, and preoperative depression is associated with worse outcomes after cardiac surgery. Depression is also correlated with postoperative delirium (POD) after major surgery. However, the association between preoperative depression and POD after cardiac surgery is sparsely studied. The aim of this study was to investigate depression as a predictor for POD in cardiac surgery patients.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study included 1133 cardiac surgery patients in Stockholm 2013-2016. Depression was defined by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and POD was evaluated by assessing medical records for symptoms of POD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. The association between depression and POD was determined through multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 162 (14%) individuals reported depressive symptoms preoperatively. The incidence of POD was 26% and highest among elderly patients. Among patients with depression, 34% developed POD. In the group of non-depressed patients, 24% developed POD. The overall adjusted odds of delirium were 2.19 times higher in individuals with depressive symptoms compared to controls (95% confidence interval 1.43-3.34). The onset of delirium was most common on Days 0-2 after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

This unique population-based study in patients undergoing cardiac surgery shows that preoperative depression is associated with POD in a large proportion of treated patients. The findings support the need for improved preoperative screening for depression, especially in younger patients, and enhanced clinical surveillance in the early postoperative period for all patients.

Association of Antipsychotic Dose With Survival of Advanced Cancer Patients With Delirium

CONTEXT

Delirium is common in patients with advanced cancer, and antipsychotics are widely used for its management.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to explore the association of the antipsychotic dose with survival of terminally ill cancer patients with delirium.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study was conducted. We enrolled adult advanced cancer patients who developed delirium and received antipsychotics at 14 palliative care units in Japan between September 2015 and May 2016. Hazard ratios of survival after starting antipsychotics between groups with different oral chlorpromazine equivalent doses: low: <100 mg, moderate: 100-200 mg, high: ≥200 mg, were calculated with adjustment for potential confounders using Cox regression. The antipsychotic dose-specific mortality risk was estimated with smooth splines.

RESULTS

Of 453 patients enrolled, 422 patients were analyzed. The median antipsychotic dose was 92.6 mg: low-dose (N = 231), moderate-dose (122), and high-dose (69). The median survival of all patients was 11 days. Compared with the low-dose group, the high-dose group showed a significantly shorter survival (HR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.08-1.98). Smooth splines demonstrated that HR continuously increased as the antipsychotic dose increased. In patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, the high-dose group showed a significantly shorter survival than the low-dose group (HR: 2.86), while in patients treated with typical antipsychotics, survival was not significantly different (0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher doses of antipsychotics were associated with increased mortality in terminally ill cancer patients with delirium. To minimize the potential mortality risk, antipsychotics should be started at low doses and titrated carefully.

Validation and Recalibration of Modified Mayo Delirium Prediction (MDP) Tool in a Hospitalized Cohort

BACKGROUND

Delirium prediction can augment and optimize care of older adults. Mayo delirium prediction (MDP) tool is a robust tool, developed from a large retrospective data set. MDP tool predicts delirium risk for hospitalized older adults, within 24 hours of hospital admission, based on risk factor information available from electronic health record. We intend to validate the prediction performance of this tool and optimize the tool for clinical use.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study SETTINGS: Mayo Clinic Hospitals, Rochester, MN PARTICIPANTS: All Hospitalized older adults (age >50 years) from December 2019 to June 2020. Patients with an admitting diagnosis of substance use disorder were excluded.

INTERVENTION

Original MDP tool was modified to adjust for the fall risk variable as a binary variable that will facilitate broader applicability across different fall risk tools. The modified MDP tool was validated in the retrospective derivation and validation data set which yielded similar prediction capability (AUROC = 0.85, 0.83 respectively).

MEASUREMENTS

Diagnosis of delirium was captured by flowsheet diagnosis of delirium documented by nursing staff in medical record. Predictive variable data were collected daily.

RESULTS

8055 patients were included in the study (median age 71 years). The modified MDP tool delirium prediction compared to delirium occurrence was 4% in the low-risk group, 17.8% in the medium-risk group, and 45.3% in the high-risk group (AUROC of 0.80). Recalibration of the tool was attempted to further optimize the tool that resulted in both simplification and increased performance (AUROC 0.82). The simplified tool was able to predict delirium in hospitalized patients admitted to both medical and surgical services.

CONCLUSIONS

Validation of modified MDP tool revealed good prediction capabilities. Recalibration resulted in simplification with increased performance of the tool in both medical and surgical hospitalized patients.

Can we improve delirium prevention and treatment in the emergency department? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

This systematic review was conducted to evaluate any interventions to prevent incident delirium, or shorten the duration of prevalent delirium, in older adults presenting to the emergency department (ED).

METHODS

Health sciences librarian designed electronic searches were conducted from database inception through September 2021. Two authors reviewed studies, and included studies that evaluated interventions for the prevention and/or treatment of delirium and excluded non-ED studies. The risk of bias (ROB) was evaluated by the Cochrane ROB tool or the Newcastle-Ottawa (NOS) scale. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate a pooled effect of multifactorial programs on delirium prevention.

RESULTS

Our search strategy yielded 11,900 studies of which 10 met study inclusion criteria. Two RCTs evaluated pharmacologic interventions for delirium prevention; three non-RCTs employed a multi-factorial delirium prevention program; three non-RCTs evaluated regional anesthesia for hip fractures; and one study evaluated the use of Foley catheter, medication exposure, and risk of delirium. Only four studies demonstrated a significant impact on delirium incidence or duration of delirium-one RCT of melatonin reduced the incidence of delirium (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.62), one non-RCT study on a multi-factorial program decreased inpatient delirium prevalence (41% to 19%) and the other reduced incident delirium (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.61). One case-control study on the use of ED Foley catheters in the ED increased the duration of delirium (proportional OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 7.4). A pooled odds ratio for three multifactorial programs on delirium prevention was 0.46 (95% CI 0.31-0.68, I2  = 0).

CONCLUSION

Few interventions initiated in the ED were found to consistently reduce the incidence or duration of delirium. Delirium prevention and treatment trials in the ED are still rare and should be prioritized for future research.

A Case for Psychiatric Leadership in Dispositional Capacity Assessment

Dispositional capacity assessment, which evaluates a patient's ability for self-care after hospital discharge, is a novel concept with important implications for work in consultation-liaison, inpatient, and emergency psychiatric settings. In this Open Forum, the authors present an illustrative case, review literature relevant to dispositional capacity, and explore social theory that elucidates the concept. Psychiatrists are specifically positioned to provide leadership in this area. Psychiatrists should consider further developing and formalizing criteria for dispositional capacity assessment.

Trends in Geriatric Conditions Among Older Adults Admitted to US ICUs Between 1998 and 2015

BACKGROUND

Older adults are increasingly admitted to the ICU, and those with disabilities, dementia, frailty, and multimorbidity are vulnerable to adverse outcomes. Little is known about how pre-existing geriatric conditions have changed over time.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How have changes in disability, dementia, frailty, and multimorbidity in older adults admitted to the ICU changed from 1998 through 2015?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Medicare-linked Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) data identifying patients 65 years of age and older admitted to an ICU between 1998 and 2015. ICU admission was the unit of analysis. Year of ICU admission was the exposure. Disability, dementia, frailty, and multimorbidity were identified based on responses to HRS surveys before ICU admission. Disability represented the need for assistance with ≥ 1 activity of daily living. Dementia used cognitive and functional measures. Frailty included deficits in ≥ 2 domains (physical, nutritive, cognitive, or sensory function). Multimorbidity represented ≥ 3 self-reported chronic diseases. Time trends in geriatric conditions were modeled as a function of year of ICU admission and were adjusted for age, sex, race or ethnicity, and proxy interview status.

RESULTS

Across 6,084 ICU patients, age at admission increased from 77.6 years (95% CI, 76.7-78.4 years) in 1998 to 78.7 years (95% CI, 77.5-79.8 years) in 2015 (P < .001 for trend). The adjusted proportion of ICU admissions with pre-existing disability rose from 15.5% (95% CI, 12.1%-18.8%) in 1998 to 24.0% (95% CI, 18.5%-29.6%) in 2015 (P = .001). Rates of dementia did not change significantly (P = .21). Frailty increased from 36.6% (95% CI, 30.9%-42.3%) in 1998 to 45.0% (95% CI, 39.7%-50.2%) in 2015 (P = .04); multimorbidity rose from 54.4% (95% CI, 49.2%-59.7%) in 1998 to 71.8% (95% CI, 66.3%-77.2%) in 2015 (P < .001).

INTERPRETATION

Rates of pre-existing disability, frailty, and multimorbidity in older adults admitted to ICUs increased over time. Geriatric principles need to be deeply integrated into the ICU setting.

Low geriatric nutritional risk index is a risk factor for death within 1 year following hip fracture

PURPOSE

Hip fracture is common in older patients and is associated with high mortality and functional impairment. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) evaluates the risk of malnutrition-related complications, and the Barthel Index (BI) evaluates older patients' functional status. The study aim was to determine the risk factors for both death and decreased BI within 1 year after hip fracture.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 108 patients who were treated for hip fractures in 10 public or private hospitals from February to July 2007. Participating facilities comprised eight public or private hospitals with 200-499 beds, and two private or orthopedic hospitals with 20-199 beds. We evaluated several risk factors for death and lower BI within 1 year after hip fracture.

RESULTS

The mortality rate within 1 year postoperatively for patients who survived inpatient stay was 6.5% (7/108). The proportion of patients with decreased postoperative BI was 43.6% (44/101). Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that several factors, including low GNRI (odds ratio [OR]: 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI: 0.68-0.93]), were risk factors for death within 1 year. Postoperative delirium (OR: 8.84 [1.52-51.6]), postinjury dementia (OR: 34.8 [3.01-402]), preinjury BI (OR: 1.05 [1.02-1.08]), and preinjury dementia (OR: 6.22 [1.73-22.4]) were risk factors for decreased postoperative BI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that lower GNRI was a risk factor for death within 1 year of hip surgery and that delirium and dementia were among the risk factors for decreased BI 1 year after hip fracture.

Effects of non-pharmacological interventions for preventing delirium in general ward inpatients: A systematic review & meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

The purpose of this study was to identify the types and contents of non-pharmacological delirium prevention interventions applied to inpatients in general wards, and to verified the effectiveness of the interventions on the incidence of delirium. We performed an extensive search of bibliographic databases and registries (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, PubMed and Google Scholar, and Korean DB such as RISS, DBpia, KISS, NDSL and KCI) using terms to identify delirium, prevention, and non-pharmacological. We searched all databases from their inception to January 2021 and imposed restriction on language of publication in English and Korean. We included studies if they were conducted as all types of randomized controlled trials (RCT), involving adult patients aged 19 years or more who were admitted to a general ward. We included trials comparing non-pharmacological intervention versus usual care. The entire process of data selection and extraction, assessment of risk of bias with ROB2.O was independently performed by three researchers. The estimated effect size was an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. The fixed effects model and general inverse variance estimation method were adopted. The type of non-pharmacological delirium prevention interventions for inpatients in general ward was mainly multi-component intervention to correct delirium risk factors. The content and intensity of non-pharmacological interventions varied greatly depending on the characteristics of the patient and the clinical situation. As a result of the meta-analysis, non-pharmacological multi-component intervention was effective in reducing the incidence of delirium, and it was confirmed that it was effective in reducing the incidence of delirium in both the internal and surgical wards. It was confirmed by quantitative evidence that non-pharmacological interventions, especially multi-component interventions, were effective in preventing delirium in general ward inpatients.

Nonpharmacological interventions for agitation in the adult intensive care unit: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Person-centred nonpharmacological strategies should be used whenever possible to reduce agitation in the intensive care unit due to issues related to an overreliance on physical restraints and psychoactive drugs. However, the effect of nonpharmacological interventions to reduce agitation is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to systematically review studies that evaluate the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions designed to prevent and minimise or manage patient agitation in the adult intensive care unit.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute's Systematic Review of Effectiveness method and a priori PROSPERO protocol. Quantitative studies were identified from seven databases, including MEDLINE, EmCare, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. In addition, grey literature from several repositories and trial registers was searched. The primary outcome of interest was the effect on prevention, minimisation, and management of agitation. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included (n = 882). Meta-analyses of two studies demonstrated significantly lower levels of agitation (measured with the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale) in the group receiving a multicomponent nonpharmacological intervention than in those receiving usual care. Individual studies showed a significant effect of nature-based sounds, music, foot reflexology, healing touch, and aromatherapy. The type of the endotracheal suction system did not affect levels of agitation. Overall, the certainty of the findings was rated very low. Harms and adverse effects were not reported in any studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonpharmacological interventions have the potential to reduce levels of agitation in the intensive care unit. However, inconsistencies in reporting, low quality of methodological designs, and small sample sizes impact the certainty of the results. Future trials must include larger sample sizes, use rigorous methods to improve knowledge in this field, and consider a range of other outcomes.

What older people and their relatives say is important during acute hospitalisation: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Due to the growing population of older people across the world, providing safe and effective care is an increasing concern. Older persons in need for hospitalisation often have, or are susceptible to develop, cognitive impairment. Hospitals need to adapt to ensure high-quality care for this vulnerable patient group. Several age-friendly frameworks and models aiming at reducing risks and complications have been promoted. However, care for older people must be based on the persons' reported needs, and relatives are often an important part of older persons' social support. The primary aim of this study was to explore older peoples' and their relatives' experiences of acute hospitalisation and determine what is important for them to experience a good hospital stay. The study was not limited to patients with cognitive impairment; but included a wider group of older individuals vulnerable to developing delirium, with or without an underlying chronic cognitive impairment.

METHODS

This study had a qualitative research design in which people aged 75 years or older and their relatives were interviewed during an acute hospitalisation. The study was conducted at two medical wards at a large university hospital in Norway, and included a total of 60 participants. All interviews were informed by a semi-structured interview guide and were thematically analysed.

RESULTS

Four major themes were identified in the older people's and the relatives' descriptions of how they experienced the hospital stay and what was important for them during the hospital stay: being seen and valued as a person, individualised care, patient-adapted communication and information, and collaboration with relatives. The themes span both positive and negative experiences, reflecting great variability in the experiences described. The presence of these four characteristics promoted positive experiences among patients and relatives, whereas the absence or negative valuation of them promoted negative experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings underscore the interrelatedness of older people and their relatives and that patients and relatives are quite consistent in their experiences and opinions. This suggests that listening to the concerns of relatives is important, as they can voice the older patient's needs and concerns in situations where older people might find it difficult to do so. Furthermore, the results underscore how 'small things' matter in relation to how health professionals capture the patient's individual values, need for care, information and involvement of relatives and that these are essential to ensure predictability and security and a good stay for older people and their relatives.

Complexities of care: Common components of models of care in geriatrics

As people age, they are more likely to have an increasing number of medical diagnoses and medications, as well as healthcare providers who care for those conditions. Health professionals caring for older adults understand that medical issues are not the sole factors in the phenomenon of this “care complexity.” Socioeconomic, cognitive, functional, and organizational factors play a significant role. Care complexity also affects family caregivers, providers, and healthcare systems and therefore society at large. The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) created a work group to review care to identify the most common components of existing healthcare models that address care complexity in older adults. This article, a product of that work group, defines care complexity in older adults, reviews healthcare models and those most common components within them and identifies potential gaps that require attention to reduce the burden of care complexity in older adults.

Delirium as a Presenting Symptom of COVID-19

Delirium is a common neurologic manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) in older adults who present to the emergency department (ED).

Patient Profile and Management of Delirium in Older Adults Hospitalized Due to COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 can cause neurologic symptoms, as well as respiratory ones. Older adults are at risk of developing acute delirium in older persons (ADOP). The combination of experiencing respiratory isolation due to COVID-19, as well as other associated risk factors for older adults, may have had an impact on ADOP and ADOP management in the acute hospital setting. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of ADOP in patients admitted to a COVID-19 unit. An observational prospective study on a sample of 108 patients was carried out between November 2020 and May 2021. The following data were collected: sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors for ADOP, management of ADOP, and impact on ADOP on both functional and cognitive deterioration. A 29.6% proportion of older adults admitted to an acute COVID-19 unit presented hyperactive ADOP, mainly during the night. Management of ADOP in our sample involved mainly pharmacological treatment and had a serious impact on hospital stay and both functional and cognitive deterioration. Preventive strategies and being accompanied by a relative or a carer may be useful to manage ADOP during hospital admission due to COVID-19.

Head-to-head comparison of 14 prediction models for postoperative delirium in elderly non-ICU patients: an external validation study

OBJECTIVES

Delirium is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalisation and increased healthcare costs. The number of clinical prediction models (CPM) to predict postoperative delirium has increased exponentially. Our goal is to perform a head-to-head comparison of CPMs predicting postoperative delirium in non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) elderly patients to identify the best performing models.

SETTING

Single-site university hospital.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of prospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS AND INCLUSION

CPMs published within the timeframe of 1 January 1990 to 1 May 2020 were checked for eligibility (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). For the time period of 1 January 1990 to 1 January 2017, included CPMs were identified in systematic reviews based on prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. An extended literature search for original studies was performed independently by two authors, including CPMs published between 1 January 2017 and 1 May 2020. External validation was performed using a surgical cohort consisting of 292 elderly non-ICU patients.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Discrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness.

RESULTS

14 CPMs were eligible for analysis out of 366 full texts reviewed. External validation was previously published for 8/14 (57%) CPMs. C-indices ranged from 0.52 to 0.74, intercepts from -0.02 to 0.34, slopes from -0.74 to 1.96 and scaled Brier from -1.29 to 0.088. Based on predefined criteria, the two best performing models were those of Dai et al (c-index: 0.739; (95% CI: 0.664 to 0.813); intercept: -0.018; slope: 1.96; scaled Brier: 0.049) and Litaker et al (c-index: 0.706 (95% CI: 0.590 to 0.823); intercept: -0.015; slope: 0.995; scaled Brier: 0.088). For the remaining CPMs, model discrimination was considered poor with corresponding c-indices <0.70.

CONCLUSION

Our head-to-head analysis identified 2 out of 14 CPMs as best-performing models with a fair discrimination and acceptable calibration. Based on our findings, these models might assist physicians in postoperative delirium risk estimation and patient selection for preventive measures.

Heart rate variability and delirium in acute non-cardioembolic stroke: a prospective, cross-sectional, cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Delirium is an acute fluctuating disorder of attention and awareness. It is associated with autonomic dysfunction and increased mortality. The primary endpoint of our study was to measure autonomic activity in acute stroke patients, by means of heart rate variability analysis, in order to identify autonomic modifications that can predispose to delirium.

METHODS

Patients were consecutively enrolled from the stroke unit. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years and diagnosis of stroke with onset within the previous 72 h confirmed by neuroimaging. Exclusion criteria were atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and conditions requiring intensive care unit. Patients were evaluated by means of Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) and Confusion Assessment Method-Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) at baseline, after 72 h, or when symptoms suggesting delirium occurred. For each patient, ECG was recorded at baseline assessment and HRV analysis was conducted on five consecutive minutes of artifact-free ECG traces.

RESULTS

Fifty-six ECGs were available for analysis. During the study period, 11 patients developed delirium. Patients with and without delirium did not differ for sex, age, severity of stroke, and comorbidities. The delirium group had greater standard deviation of the heart rate (DLR - :9.16 ± 8.28; DLR + : 14.36 ± 5.55; p = 0.026) and lower power spectral density of the HF component (DLR - : 38.23 ± 19.23 n.u.; DLR + : 25.75 ± 8.77 n.u.; p = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Acute non-cardioembolic stroke patients with increased variability of heart rate and decreased vagal control are at risk for delirium.

Impact of a dementia-friendly program on detection and management of patients with cognitive impairment and delirium in acute-care hospital units: a controlled clinical trial design

Background

Frail older persons with cognitive impairment (CI) are at special risk of experiencing delirium during acute hospitalisation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a dementia-friendly hospital program contributes to improved detection and management of patients with CI and risk of delirium at an acute-care hospital in Norway. Furthermore, we aimed to explore whether the program affected the detection of delirium, pharmacological treatment, 30-day re-hospitalisation, 30-day mortality and institutionalisation afterwards.

Methods

This study was part of a larger quality improvement project aiming at developing and implementing a new program for early screening and management of patients with CI. This study, evaluating the program are designed as a controlled clinical trial with a historical control group. It was conducted at two different medical wards at a large acute-care hospital in Norway from September 2018 to December 2019. A total of 423 acute hospitalised patients 75 years of age or older were included in the study. Delirium screening and cognitive tests were recorded by research staff with the 4 ‘A’s Test (4AT) and the Confusion Assessment Measure (CAM), while demographic and medical information was recorded from the electronic medical records (EMR).

Results

Implementation of the dementia-friendly hospital program did not show any significant changes in the identification of patients with CI. However, the share of patients screened with 4AT within 24 h increased from 0% to 35.5% (P < .001). The proportion of the patients with CI identified by the clinical staff, who received measures to promote “dementia-friendly” care and reduce the risk for delirium increased by 32.2% (P < .001), compared to the control group. Furthermore, the number of patients with CI who were prescribed antipsychotic, hypnotic or sedative medications was reduced by 24.5% (P < .001). There were no differences in delirium detection, 30-day readmission or 30-day mortality.

Conclusions

A model for early screening and multifactorial non-pharmacological interventions for patients with CI and delirium may improve management of this patient group, and reduce prescriptions of antipsychotic, hypnotic and sedative medications. The implementation in clinical practice of early screening using quality improvement methodology deserves attention.

Trial registration

The protocol of this study was retrospectively registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System with the registration number: NCT04737733 and date of registration: 03/02/2021.

Inside the Black Box: A Narrative Review on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment-Driven Interventions in Older Adults with Cancer

Simple Summary

Comprehensive geriatric assessment is defined as a multi-dimensional, multi-disciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic process that is conducted to determine the medical, mental, and functional problems that older people with frailty have so that a coordinated and integrated plan for treatment and follow-up can be developed. Progress has been made in the definition of the best way to detect problems, but the benefits are mostly based on prognosis stratification and on the adaptation of cancer treatment. The present review aims to evaluate the level of evidence regarding geriatric interventions proposed following the detection of a problem in cancer patients. This review highlights the scarcity of published studies on this topic. Comprehensive geriatric assessment-based interventions have not yet demonstrated their specific impact. Multi-domain interventions seem promising, especially when they are based on global assessments. However, standardization seems difficult considering the lack of evidence for each domain.

Abstract

There is a consensus that the use of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is good clinical practice for older patients with solid tumors or hematological malignancies. To be complete, a CGA must include a geriatric assessment and an intervention plan. According to the SIOG consensus, a CGA should assess several domains: functional status, comorbidity, cognition, mental health status, fatigue, social status and support, nutrition, and the presence of geriatric syndromes. Progress has been made in the definition of the best way to detect problems, but the benefits are mostly based on prognosis stratification and on the adaptation of cancer treatment. The present review aims to evaluate the level of evidence regarding geriatric interventions proposed following the detection of a problem in cancer patients in each domain mentioned in the SIOG consensus. An online search of the PubMed database was performed using predefined search algorithms specific for each domain of the CGA. Eligible articles had to have well-defined interventions targeting specific domains of the CGA. We screened 1864 articles, but only a few trials on single-domain interventions were found, and often, these studies involved small groups of patients. This review highlights the scarcity of published studies on this topic. The specific impacts of CGA-based interventions have not yet been demonstrated. Multi-domain interventions seem promising, especially when they are based on global assessments. However, standardization seems difficult considering the lack of evidence for each domain. New studies are necessary in multiple care contexts, and innovative designs must be used to balance internal and external validity. An accurate description of the intervention and what “usual care” means will improve the external validity of such studies.

Structured delirium management in the hospital—a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Delirium is a common and serious complication of inpatient hospital care in older patients. The current approaches to prevention and treatment followed in German hospitals are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a standardized multiprofessional approach to the management of delirium in inpatients.

METHODS

The patients included in the study were all >65 years old, were treated for at least 3 days on an internal medicine, trauma surgery, or orthopedic ward at Münster University Hospital between January 2016 and December 2017, and showed cognitive deficits on standardized screening at the time of admission (a score of ≤=25 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA] test). Patients in the intervention group received standardized delirium prevention and treatment measures; those in the control group did not. The primary outcomes measured were the incidence and duration of delirium during the hospital stay; the secondary outcomes measured were cognitive deficits relevant to daily living at 12 months after discharge (MoCA and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [I-ADL]).

RESULTS

The data of 772 patients were analyzed. Both the rate and the duration of delirium were lower in the intervention group than in the control group (6.8% versus 20.5%, odds ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval [0.18; 0.45]; 3 days [interquartile range, IQR 2-4] versus 6 days [IQR 4-8]). A year after discharge, the patients with delirium in the intervention group showed fewer cognitive deficits relevant to daily living than those in the control group (I-ADL score 2.5 [IQR 2-4] versus 1 [IQR 1-2], P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Structured multiprofessional management reduces the incidence and duration of delirium and lowers the number of lasting cognitive deficits relevant to daily living after hospital discharge.

Review of Postoperative Delirium in Geriatric Patients After Hip Fracture Treatment

Introduction

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious complication occurring in 4–53.3% of geriatric patients undergoing surgeries for hip fracture. Incidence of hip fractures is projected to grow 11.9% from 258,000 in 2010 to 289,000 in 2030 based on 1990 to 2010 data. As prevalence of hip fractures is projected to increase, POD is also anticipated to increase.

Signficance

Postoperative delirium remains the most common complication of emergency hip fracture surgery leading to high morbidity and mortality rates despite significant research conducted regarding this topic. This study reviews literature from 1990 to 2021 regarding POD in geriatric hip fracture management.

Results

Potentially modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for developing POD include, but are not limited to, male gender, older age, multiple comorbidities, specific comorbidities (dementia, cognitive impairment, diabetes, vision impairment, and abnormal blood pressure), low BMI, preoperative malnutrition, low albumin, low hematocrit, blunted preoperative cytokines, emergency surgery, time to admission and surgery, preoperative medical treatment, polypharmacy, delirium-inducing medications, fever, anesthesia time, and sedation depth and type. Although the pathophysiology remains unclear, the leading theories suggest neurotransmitter imbalance, inflammation, and electrolyte or metabolic derangements as the underlying cause of POD. POD is associated with increased length of hospital stay, cost, morbidity, and mortality. Prevention and early recognition are key factors in managing POD. Methods to reduce POD include utilizing interdisciplinary teams, educational programs for healthcare professionals, reducing narcotic use, avoiding delirium-inducing medications, and multimodal pain control.

Conclusion

While POD is a known complication after hip fracture surgery, further exploration in prevention is needed. Early identification of risk factors is imperative to prevent POD in geriatric patients. Early prevention will enhance delivery of health care both pre- and post-operatively leading to the best possible surgical outcome and better quality of life after hip fracture treatment.

Effects of Physical Exercise on the Incidence of Delirium and Cognitive Function in Acutely Hospitalized Older Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute care hospitalization increases the likelihood of developing cognitive impairment and delirium in older adults.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize evidence about the effectiveness of exercise and physical rehabilitation interventions on the incidence of delirium and cognitive impairment in acutely hospitalized older patients.

METHODS

Relevant articles were systematically searched (PubMed, Web of Science, and CINHAL databases) until 26 August 2021. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials of in-hospital physical exercise interventions and rehabilitation programs compared to usual care performed for older patients (>  65 years) hospitalized for an acute medical condition were selected. The primary endpoints were changes in the incidence of delirium and cognition during acute hospitalization. The secondary endpoints included functional independence, psychological measures, well-being status, length of hospital stay, transfer after discharge, fall occurrence, hospital readmissions, and mortality rate. The endpoints were evaluated at different time points (at admission, at discharge, and after discharge).

RESULTS

Eleven studies from 8 trials (n = 3,646) were included. The methodological quality of the studies was mostly high. None of the studies reported any adverse events related to the intervention. Early rehabilitation improved cognitive function at 3 months postdischarge (Hedge's g = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19 to 0.46, p <  0.001). No between-group differences were found for incident delirium and cognitive impairment during hospitalization (all p >  0.05).

CONCLUSION

In-hospital physical exercise and early rehabilitation programs seem to be safe and effective interventions for enhancing cognitive function after discharge in older patients hospitalized for an acute medical condition. However, no potential benefits were obtained over usual hospital care for the incidence of delirium.

Harmonization of Four Delirium Instruments: Creating Crosswalks and the Delirium Item-Bank (DEL-IB)

OBJECTIVES

Over 30 instruments are in current, active use for delirium identification. In a recent systematic review, we recommended 4 commonly used and well-validated instruments for clinical and research use. The goal of this study is to harmonize the four instruments on the same metric using modern methods in psychometrics.

DESIGN

Secondary data analysis from 3 studies, and a simulation study based on the observed data.

SETTING

Hospitalized (non-ICU) adults over 65 years old in the United States, Ireland, and Belgium.

PARTICIPANTS

The total sample comprised 600 participants, contributing 1,623 assessments.

MEASUREMENTS

Confusion Assessment Method (long-form and short-form), Delirium Observation Screening Scale, Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R-98) (total and severity scores), and Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale.

RESULTS

Using item response theory, we linked scores across instruments, placing all four instruments and their separate scorings on the same metric (the propensity to delirium). Kappa statistics comparing agreement in delirium identification among the instruments ranged from 0.37 to 0.75, with the highest agreement between the DRS-R-98 total score and MDAS. After linking scores, we created a harmonized item bank, called the Delirium Item Bank (DEL-IB), consisting of 50 items. The DEL-IB allowed us to create six crosswalks, to allow scores to be translated across instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

With our results, individual instrument scores can be directly compared to aid in clinical decision-making, and quantitatively combined in meta-analyses.

Association of preoperative frailty with postoperative delirium in elderly orthopedic trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Among elderly orthopedic trauma patients, the prevalence of delirium during hospitalization has been reported to be as high as 60%. Frail elderly patients have an increased risk of delirium after elective surgery; however, such an association remains underexplored among trauma patients.

AIM

Our goal was to investigate whether preoperative frailty is associated with postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly orthopedic trauma patients.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study. All patients were ≥ 65 years of age and were admitted to the hospital between 01/01/2017 and 08/31/2018 for surgical intervention of a significant extremity fracture. Frailty was assessed using the fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and loss of weight questionnaire. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method. POD was defined as new-onset delirium that occurred within 24 h after surgery. To investigate whether frailty is associated with POD, we performed a multiple variable logistic regression, controlling for biologically relevant confounders.

RESULTS

Five hundred fifty-six patients comprised the analytic cohort. Incidence of POD was 14% (n = 80). Multiple variable regression analysis demonstrated that each unit increment in FRAIL score was associated with a 33% higher likelihood of POD (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.02-1.72, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that preoperative frailty increases the risk of POD in hospitalized, elderly, orthopedic trauma patients. Future studies are needed to determine whether perioperative interventions focused on improving frailty can reduce the risk of POD and improve outcomes in this rapidly growing cohort of patients.

Patient-related risk factors for in-hospital functional decline in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Functional decline (FD) is a common and serious problem among hospitalised older adults.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to identify patient-related risk factors for in-hospital FD in older adults.

METHODS

Previous reviews on this topic (1970-2007) and the databases PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL (January 2007-December 2020) were searched. Reference lists of included articles were screened. Studies investigating patient-related risk factors for FD from (pre)admission to discharge in older adults admitted to an acute geriatric or internal medical unit were included. Study quality was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects models. The quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Statistically significant risk factors were living in a nursing home (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.29-4.52), impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.51-2.86), history of falls (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.00-2.92), cognitive impairment (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.56-2.14), dementia (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.23-2.38), delirium (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.88-2.93), (risk of) malnutrition (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.03-3.03), hypoalbuminemia (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.36-2.36), comorbidity (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.16), and the presence of pressure ulcers (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.82-6.09). The narrative synthesis suggested prehospital FD, needing assistance with walking, and low body mass index as additional risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Several patient-related risk factors for in-hospital FD were identified that can be used at hospital admission to identify older patients at risk of FD.

Outcomes of a Delirium Prevention Program in Older Persons After Elective Surgery: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Delirium significantly worsens elective surgery outcomes and costs. Delirium risk is highest in elderly populations, whose surgical health care resource consumption (50%) exceeds their demographic proportion (15% to 18%) in high-resource countries. Effective nonpharmacologic delirium prevention could safely improve care in these vulnerable patients, but data from procedure-specific studies are insufficiently compelling to drive changes in practice. Delirium prevention approaches applicable to different surgical settings remain unexplored.

Objective

To examine whether a multifaceted prevention intervention is effective in reducing postoperative delirium incidence and prevalence after various major surgical procedures.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial recruited 1470 patients 70 years and older undergoing elective orthopedic, general, or cardiac surgery from November 2017 to April 2019 from 5 German tertiary medical centers. Data were analyzed from December 2019 to July 2021.

Interventions

First, structured delirium education was provided to clinical caregivers at each site. Then, the study delirium prevention team assessed patient delirium risk factors and symptoms daily. Prevention was tailored to individual patient needs and could include: cognitive, motor, and sensory stimulation; meal companionship; accompaniment during diagnostic procedures; stress relaxation; and sleep promotion.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Postoperative delirium incidence and duration.

Results

Of 1470 included patients, 763 (51.9%) were male, and the median (IQR) age was 77 (74-81) years. Overall, the intervention reduced postoperative delirium incidence (odds ratio, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77-0.98; P = .02) and percentage of days with delirium (intervention, 5.3%; control, 6.9%; P = .03). The effect was significant in patients undergoing orthopedic or abdominal surgery (odds ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.35-0.99; P = .047) but not cardiac surgery (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.70-1.99; P = .54).

Conclusions and Relevance

This multifaceted multidisciplinary prevention intervention reduced postoperative delirium occurrence and days with delirium in older patients undergoing different elective surgical procedures but not cardiac procedures. These results suggest implementing this delirium prevention program will improve care and outcomes in older patients undergoing elective general and orthopedic procedures.

[Delirium-an interdisciplinary challenge]

BACKGROUND

Delirium is a common and potentially life-threatening disease that often poses major problems for hospitals in terms of care. It mainly affects older patients and is multifactorial, especially in older people. Permanent functional and cognitive impairments after delirium are not uncommon in geriatric patients.

DIAGNOSTIC

Often, delirious syndromes are not recognized or are misinterpreted. This is especially the case with the hypoactive form of delirium. Various screening and test procedures are available for the detection of delirium, the routine use of which is essential.

TREATMENT

In many cases, delirium can be avoided with suitable preventive measures. Above all, nondrug prevention strategies and multidimensional approaches play an important role here. For the drug treatment of delirium in geriatric patients, low-potency, classic and atypical neuroleptics, as well as dexmedetomidine for severe courses are recommended.

The detection of delirium in admitted oncology patients: a scoping review

Aim

To understand the validation of delirium detection tools in medical oncology, as well as identify data on incidence, prevalence and reversibility in this setting.

Findings

Of twelve studies, only four used case ascertainment methods following published recommendations, six studies had a low risk of bias.

Message

In delirium tool validation studies in the oncology setting, choice of appropriate gold standard for case ascertainment is a critical factor. New tools and new validations are not recommended, rather the critical application of existing tools depending on appropriate validation and clinical practicality for the setting.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41999-021-00586-1.

Purpose

Delirium leads to poor outcomes for patients and careers and has negative impacts on staff and service provision. Cancer rates in elderly populations are increasing and frequently, cancer diagnoses are a co-morbidity in the context of frailty. Data relating to the epidemiology of delirium in hospitalised cancer patients are limited. With the overarching purpose of improving delirium detection and reducing the morbidity and mortality of delirium in cancer patients, we reviewed the epidemiological data and approach to delirium detection in hospitalised, adult oncology patients.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS databases were searched from January 1996 to August 2017. Key concepts were delirium, cancer, inpatient oncology and delirium screening/detection.

Results

Of 896 unique studies identified; 91 met full-text review criteria. Of 12 eligible studies, four applied recommended case ascertainment methods to all patients, three used delirium screening tools alone or with case ascertainment tools sub-optimally applied, four used tools not recommended for delirium screening or case ascertainment, one used the Confusion Assessment Method with insufficient information to determine if it met case ascertainment status. Two studies presented delirium incidence rates: 7.8%, and 17% respectively. Prevalence rates ranged from 18–33% for general medical or oncology wards; 42–58% for Acute Palliative Care Units (APCU); and for older cancer patients: 22% and 57%. Three studies reported reversibility; 26% and 49% respectively (APCUs) and 30% (older patients with cancer). Six studies had a low risk of bias according to QUADAS-2 criteria; all studies in the APCU setting were rated at higher risk of bias. Tool selection, study flow and recruitment bias reduced study quality.

Conclusion

The knowledge base for improved interventions and clinical care for adults with cancer and delirium is limited by the low number of studies. A clear distinction between screening tools and diagnostic tools is required to provide an improved understanding of the rates of delirium and its reversibility in this population.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41999-021-00586-1.

A New Perspective on the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Sleep Deprivation-Related Consequences: Can Curcumin Help?

Sleep disturbances, as well as sleep-wake rhythm disorders, are characteristic symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that may head the other clinical signs of this neurodegenerative disease. Age-related structural and physiological changes in the brain lead to changes in sleep patterns. Conditions such as AD affect the cerebral cortex, basal forebrain, locus coeruleus, and the hypothalamus, thus changing the sleep-wake cycle. Sleep disorders likewise adversely affect the course of the disease. Since the sleep quality is important for the proper functioning of the memory, impaired sleep is associated with problems in the related areas of the brain that play a key role in learning and memory functions. In addition to synthetic drugs, utilization of medicinal plants has become popular in the treatment of neurological diseases. Curcuminoids, which are in a diarylheptanoid structure, are the main components of turmeric. Amongst them, curcumin has multiple applications in treatment regimens of various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, cancer, inflammatory diseases, and aging. Besides, curcumin has been reported to be effective in different types of neurodegenerative diseases. Scientific studies exclusively showed that curcumin leads significant improvements in the pathological process of AD. Yet, its low solubility hence low bioavailability is the main therapeutic limitation of curcumin. Although previous studies have focused different types of advanced nanoformulations of curcumin, new approaches are needed to solve the solubility problem. This review summarizes the available scientific data, as reported by the most recent studies describing the utilization of curcumin in the treatment of AD and sleep deprivation-related consequences.

Effect of Regional vs General Anesthesia on Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery: The RAGA Randomized Trial

IMPORTANCE

In adults undergoing hip fracture surgery, regional anesthesia may reduce postoperative delirium, but there is uncertainty about its effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate, in older adults undergoing surgical repair for hip fracture, the effects of regional anesthesia on the incidence of postoperative delirium compared with general anesthesia.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A randomized, allocation-concealed, open-label, multicenter clinical trial of 950 patients, aged 65 years and older, with or without preexisting dementia, and a fragility hip fracture requiring surgical repair from 9 university teaching hospitals in Southeastern China. Participants were enrolled between October 2014 and September 2018; 30-day follow-up ended November 2018.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were randomized to receive either regional anesthesia (spinal, epidural, or both techniques combined with no sedation; n = 476) or general anesthesia (intravenous, inhalational, or combined anesthetic agents; n = 474).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary outcome was incidence of delirium during the first 7 postoperative days. Secondary outcomes analyzed in this article include delirium severity, duration, and subtype; postoperative pain score; length of hospitalization; 30-day all-cause mortality; and complications.

RESULTS

Among 950 randomized patients (mean age, 76.5 years; 247 [26.8%] male), 941 were evaluable for the primary outcome (6 canceled surgery and 3 withdrew consent). Postoperative delirium occurred in 29 (6.2%) in the regional anesthesia group vs 24 (5.1%) in the general anesthesia group (unadjusted risk difference [RD], 1.1%; 95% CI, -1.7% to 3.8%; P = .48; unadjusted relative risk [RR], 1.2 [95% CI, 0.7 to 2.0]; P = .57]). Mean severity score of delirium was 23.0 vs 24.1, respectively (unadjusted difference, -1.1; 95% CI, -4.6 to 3.1). A single delirium episode occurred in 16 (3.4%) vs 10 (2.1%) (unadjusted RD, 1.1%; 95% CI, -1.7% to 3.9%; RR, 1.6 [95% CI, 0.7 to 3.5]). Hypoactive subtype in 11 (37.9%) vs 5 (20.8%) (RD, 11.5; 95% CI, -11.0% to 35.7%; RR, 2.2 [95% CI, 0.8 to 6.3]). Median worst pain score was 0 (IQR, 0 to 20) vs 0 (IQR, 0 to 10) (difference 0; 95% CI, 0 to 0). Median length of hospitalization was 7 days (IQR, 5 to 10) vs 7 days (IQR, 6 to 10) (difference 0; 95% CI, 0 to 0). Death occurred in 8 (1.7%) vs 4 (0.9%) (unadjusted RD, -0.8%; 95% CI, -2.2% to 0.7%; RR, 2.0 [95% CI, 0.6 to 6.5]). Adverse events were reported in 106 episodes in the regional anesthesia group and 102 in the general anesthesia group; the most frequently reported adverse events were nausea and vomiting (47 [44.3%] vs 34 [33.3%]) and postoperative hypotension (13 [12.3%] vs 10 [9.8%]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In patients aged 65 years and older undergoing hip fracture surgery, regional anesthesia without sedation did not significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium compared with general anesthesia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02213380.

Changing Hospital Care For Older Adults: The Case for Geriatric Hospitals in the United States

Hospital care of frail older adults is far from optimal. Although some geriatric models of care have been shown to improve outcomes, the effect size is small and models are difficult to fully implement, sustain and replicate. The two root causes for these shortcomings are competing interests (high revenue generating diseases, procedures and surgeries) and current hospital cultures (for example a culture of safety that emphasizes bed alarms and immobility rather than frequent ambulation). Geriatric hospitals would be hospitals completely dedicated to the care of frail older patients, a group which is most vulnerable to the negative consequences of a hospitalization. They would differ from a typical adult hospital because they could implement evidence based principles of successful geriatric models of care on a hospital wide basis, which would make them sustainable and allow for scaling up of proven outcomes. Innovative structural designs, unachievable in a typical adult hospital, would enhance mobility while maintaining safety. Financial viability and stability would be a challenge but should be feasible, likely through affiliation with larger health care systems with other hospitals because of cost savings associated with geriatric models of care (decreased length of stay, increased likelihood of discharge home, without increasing costs).

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the 4A's Test for delirium screening in the elderly patient

Although many screening tools for delirium are available, delirium is still occasionally overlooked or misdiagnosed. One of the reasons for this is the lack of brief screening tools that do not require specialized training to use. The 4 'A's test (the 4AT) is a validated screening tool for delirium that can be administered in a very short time without specialized training. Herein, we evaluated the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the 4AT (the 4AT-J). A total of 150 patients aged ≥ 65 years were enrolled. Their demographics and clinical characteristics were obtained within 24 hr of their hospitalization. On each patient's high-risk day of developing delirium, the 4AT-J was administered by a nurse, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-Ⅴ) and the Japanese version of Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-98-J) were administered by a psychiatrist. Our analyses revealed that when a cut-off score of 4, the 4AT-J showed high sensitivity and specificity. The Cronbach's α-coefficient was similar to that of the original version. A receiver operating curve analysis showed sufficient power of the 4AT-J to discriminate delirium. The 4AT-J showed adequate reliability and validity for delirium screening in elderly patients.