Delirium superimposed on dementia: a survey of delirium specialists shows a lack of consensus in clinical practice and research studies

A world-wide study on delirium assessments and presence of protocols

BACKGROUND

Delirium is a common complication of older people in hospitals, rehabilitation and long-term facilities.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the worldwide use of validated delirium assessment tools and the presence of delirium management protocols.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of a worldwide one-day point prevalence study on World Delirium Awareness Day, 15 March 2023.

SETTING

Cross-sectional online survey including hospitals, rehabilitation and long-term facilities.

METHODS

Participating clinicians reported data on delirium, the presence of protocols, delirium assessments, delirium-awareness interventions, non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions, and ward/unit-specific barriers.

RESULTS

Data from 44 countries, 1664 wards/units and 36 048 patients were analysed. Validated delirium assessments were used in 66.7% (n = 1110) of wards/units, 18.6% (n = 310) used personal judgement or no assessment, and 10% (n = 166) used other assessment methods. A delirium management protocol was reported in 66.8% (n = 1094) of wards/units. The presence of protocols for delirium management varied across continents, ranging from 21.6% (on 21/97 wards/units) in Africa to 90.4% (235/260) in Australia, similar to the use of validated delirium assessments with 29.6% (29/98) in Africa to 93.5% (116/124) in North America. Wards/units with a delirium management protocol [n = 1094/1664, 66.8%] were more likely to use a validated delirium test than those without a protocol [odds ratio 6.97 (95% confidence interval 5.289-9.185)]. The presence of a delirium protocol increased the chances for valid delirium assessment and, likely, evidence-based interventions.

CONCLUSION

Wards/units that reported the presence of delirium management protocols had a higher probability of using validated delirium assessments tools to assess for delirium.

Barriers to healthcare professionals recognizing and managing delirium in older adults during a hospital stay: A mixed-methods systematic review

AIM

To investigate barriers to healthcare professionals recognizing and managing delirium in hospitalized older people.

DESIGN

A mixed-methods systematic review.

PROSPERO ID

CRD42020187932.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched (2007 to February 2023).

REVIEW METHODS

Included studies focused on healthcare professionals' recognition and management of delirium for patients aged 65 years and over in a hospital ward or emergency department. Enhancing rigour, screening of results was conducted independently by two researchers. Qualitative and quantitative data were tabulated separately and grouped. Data were compared to identify similarities and differences. All studies were quality appraised.

RESULTS

43 studies were included; 24 quantitative, 16 qualitative and three mixed-methods. Data synthesis highlighted synergy between qualitative and quantitative findings. Barriers were reflected in six themes: (1) healthcare professionals' knowledge and understanding; (2) communication; (3) workforce development; (4) interprofessional working; (5) confounders; and (6) organizational constraints.

CONCLUSIONS

Of significance, for older adults in hospital experiencing delirium, there is variability in whether and how well it is recognized and managed. To prevent adverse outcomes best practice guidance for screening, recognizing, diagnosing and managing delirium in older people needs to be agreed and disseminated widely. Supporting healthcare professionals to care for this patient population using an integrated approach is essential, how to involve and communicate with patients and their family and friends, how to recognize and manage delirium for patients with additional needs, e.g., those living with dementia and/or a learning disability. Hospitals need to have policy and guidance in place for the recognition and management of delirium in older adults presenting to a ward or to an emergency department. An IT infrastructure is needed that integrates assessments and care management plans in patient electronic records and makes them accessible within and across teams in hospital, primary and community care settings.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

There was no patient or public contribution to this systematic review.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE

Healthcare professionals can be better supported to be able to recognize and manage delirium during an acute hospital stay for older adults. This includes maximizing best care for those patients living with dementia, involving families and friends to help understand patients' baseline status and changes and supporting families and friends during this process. Of significance, attention to hospital IT infrastructures is warranted, integrating screening, assessment and care management plans in patients' electronic records and making these accessible to healthcare professionals caring for this patient population across care settings.

IMPACT

What problem did the study address? Delirium is a common condition experienced by older hospitalized patients, but it is consistently under-recognized which has implications for patient and organization outcomes. To help address this, understanding barriers to healthcare professionals recognizing and managing delirium for this patient population is paramount. What were the main findings? Barriers to healthcare professionals recognizing and managing delirium for this patient population were synthesized in six themes: (1) healthcare professionals' knowledge and understanding, (2) communication; (3) workforce development; (4) interprofessional working; (5) confounders; and (6) organizational constraints. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? The findings of this original systematic review can contribute to hospital policy and protocol for the recognition and management of delirium in older patients. The findings can meaningfully contribute to workforce professional development for practitioners caring for older people during an acute hospital stay and for practitioners in primary and community settings involved in the follow-up of patients post hospital discharge. For researchers, the findings indicate several research recommendations including investigating the impact of an education programme for nurses and other healthcare professionals on the recognition and management of the condition and understanding and investigating how best to support delirium-related distress experienced by patients and their families and practitioners.

REPORTING METHOD

This systematic review was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (Page et al., 2021).

Causal relationship between dementia and delirium: Insights from a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

BACKGROUND

Our previous study found dementia as a significant risk factor for delirium development in elderly patients with hip fracture. However, the causal relationship between dementia and delirium remains unclear.

METHODS

To assess the causal relationship between delirium and dementia, we conducted a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Inversevariance weighted (IVW), weighted median, MR Egger, weighted mode, and simple mode were employed to conduct the MR analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q statistic in MR-Egger and IVW methods. Horizontal pleiotropy was examined via the MR pleiotropy residual sum and outliers (MR-PRESSO) and MR-Egger intercept tests.

RESULTS

The forward MR analysis revealed a significant association between unclassified dementia (1.604 (1.326-1.941), p = 1.12 × 10-6), Alzheimer's disease (1.259 (1.128-1.405), p = 4.10 × 10-5), and dementia with Lewy bodies (1.121 (1.026-1.225), p = 0.011) with an increased risk of delirium. In the reverse MR analysis, delirium was also suggested to increase the risk of unclassified dementia (1.133 (1.066-1.204), p = 6.31 × 10-5) and vascular dementia (1.246 (1.075-1.444), p = 0.003). These significant results were further validated in the multivariable MR analysis. No evidence of heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was observed (p > 0.05).

LIMITATIONS

(1) Limited to European populations. (2) Sample population overlap between delirium and dementia. (3) Not all dementia subtypes were causally associated with delirium.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides genetic evidence supporting a causal relationship between dementia and delirium, indicating that dementia may influence the risk of delirium while delirium may also increase the risk of dementia.

Delirium Prevention in Early Rehabilitation During Acute Hospitalization and Implementation of Programs Specifically Tailored to Older Patients with Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review with Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

No systematic review on delirium prevention within early, hospital-based rehabilitation on implementation of approaches specifically tailored for patients with cognitive impairment (PwCI), such as Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia, has been published despite the high relevance of specific medical care in this vulnerable population.

OBJECTIVE

To document design and effectiveness of delirium prevention programs by early rehabilitation during acute, hospital-based medical care and implementation of programs specifically tailored to PwCI.

METHODS

In a three-step approach, we first identified published systematic reviews of hospital-based, early rehabilitation interventions for older persons (>65 years) in relevant databases. In a second step, we screened each single trial of included reviews according to predefined inclusion criteria. In a third step, we analyzed studies with focus on delirium prevention.

RESULTS

Among n = 25 studies identified, almost all intervention programs did not specifically target cognitive impairment (CI). Interventions were heterogeneous (modules: n = 2-19); almost all study samples were mixed/unspecified for cognitive status with more affected patients excluded. Only one study exclusively included delirium patients, and only one included CI patients. Results of random effect meta-analysis showed significant effects of generic programs to reduce delirium incidence during hospitalization by 41% (p < 0.001, odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 0.59 [0.49, 0.71] with modest heterogeneity (I2: 30%).

CONCLUSIONS

Study results document a lack of implementation for delirium prevention programs specifically tailored to PwCI by early, hospital-based rehabilitation. Specifying existing rehab concepts or augmenting them by CI-specific modules may help to develop, optimize, and implement innovative delirium prevention in PwCI in acute medical care.

[Delirium superimposed on dementia : Early detection and treatment]

BACKGROUND

Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) is a widespread but often undetected problem. Additional delirium significantly reduces the quality of life in patients with dementia. Awareness of this condition must be increased among professionals to recognize its development at an early stage, distinguish it from dementia and treat it accordingly.

OBJECTIVE

This review describes the current state of diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic methods in dealing with DSD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using the terms "dementia", "delirium", "delirium superimposed on dementia" and "DSD". An additional literature search was performed via Google Scholar.

RESULTS

The diagnostic techniques for detecting DSD are currently limited to delirium-only diagnostic tools, such as the confusion assessment method. A multiprofessional screening of high-risk patients on a regular basis is essential for the early detection and prevention of this disease. An interdisciplinary approach is also required for treatment. Pharmacological therapy is indicated when nonpharmacological measures are insufficient or to treat delirium-inducing causes. The focus lies on the mental and physical care of the patient and on the elimination of risk factors for developing DSD.

CONCLUSION

DSD is a serious syndrome, however, there is still no gold standard for diagnosis and treatment. Multicomponent nonpharmacological intervention programs have been shown to reduce the incidence of delirium. Their benefit in DSD must be verified in large multicenter studies.

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

PURPOSE

Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom.

METHODS

Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8-4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1-3; OR 12.4 (6.2-24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1-3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3-1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1-0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia.

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes.

Challenges in diagnosis and management of delirium in Lewy body disease

BACKGROUND

Delirium is an acute onset and fluctuating impairment of cognition, attention and arousal, often precipitated by acute illness. Lewy body disease (LBD) is an umbrella term for a range of clinical conditions, including Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). People living with LBD seem to be more susceptible to delirium than those with other subtypes of dementia.

AIM

To describe the challenges in clinical diagnosis and management of LBD.

METHODS

A systematic review of published literature on diagnosis and management of delirium in LBD.

RESULTS

Delirium is particularly challenging to diagnose in LBD as many of the clinical characteristics which define delirium such as inattention, fluctuating arousal, complex visual hallucinations and delusions, are also common to LBD. Distinguishing delirium from LBD can be very difficult clinically especially in the prodromal stages. Both under and over diagnosis of delirium, and under and over treatment of the symptoms have the potential to compromise the care and safety of people with a diagnosed or undiagnosed LBD. Clinicians are currently working with an extremely limited set of evidence-based management options for those with delirium in the context of a LBD diagnosis. For patients with LBD and their families this is an area of clinical practice that needs focused research.

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.

Feasibility and potential of a bedside mini-EEG for diagnosing delirium superimposed on dementia

OBJECTIVE

Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) is difficult to diagnose because symptoms of delirium might be interpreted as symptoms of dementia. To improve diagnostic accuracy, we investigated the potential of a brief point-of-care EEG measurement.

METHODS

Thirty older patients were included, all with Major Neurocognitive Disorder (i.e. dementia) according to DSM-5 criteria. EEG was registered at right prefrontal and right temporal site, with eyes either open or closed for three minutes, simultaneously with the Discomfort Scale for Dementia of Alzheimer Type. The Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit was administered to determine the presence of symptoms of a delirium at the time of EEG administration. Video registrations were reviewed independently by two delirium experts.

RESULTS

Higher activities of delta and theta1, and lower activities of theta2, alpha, and beta activity, were found in DSD when compared to dementia only. The ratio of delta and theta power during eyes-open conditions had the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.80 [0.63-0.94]; p <.001) to distinguish DSD from dementia alone. All subjects were on benzodiazepines and half on clozapine, thus the effects of psychotropics on EEG cannot be fully excluded.

CONCLUSIONS

A brief point-of-care EEG at two sites of the head has the potential to aid in the detection of DSD.

SIGNIFICANCE

The diagnostic accuracy of EEG in recognizing or excluding delirium in patients who already have dementia is of large potential given the lack of proper diagnostic tools.

Recent advances in Lewy body dementia: A comprehensive review

Lewy Body Dementia is the second most frequent neurodegenerative illness proven to cause dementia, after Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is believed to be vastly underdiagnosed, as there is a significant disparity between the number of cases diagnosed clinically and those diagnosed via neuropathology at the time of postmortem autopsy. Strikingly, many of the pharmacologic treatments used to treat behavioral and cognitive symptoms in other forms of dementia exacerbate the symptoms of DLB. Therefore, it is critical to accurately diagnose DLB as these patients require a specific treatment approach. This article focuses on its pathophysiology, risk factors, differentials, and its diverse treatment modalities. In this study, an English language literature search was conducted on Medline, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar till April 2022. The following search strings and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms were used: "Lewy Body Dementia," "Dementia with Lewy bodies," and "Parkinson's Disease Dementia." We explored the literature on Lewy Body Dementia for its epidemiology, pathophysiology, the role of various genes and how they bring about the disease, biomarkers, its differential diagnoses and treatment options.

Evaluation of Bedside Tests of Attention and Arousal Assessing Delirium in Parkinson's Disease, Dementia, and Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Delirium is a serious acute neuropsychiatric condition associated with altered attention and arousal.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate simple bedside tests for attention and arousal to detect delirium in those with and without Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia.

METHODS

Participants from two prospective delirium studies were pooled comprising 30 with PD without cognitive impairment, 24 with Lewy body cognitive impairment (PD dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies), 16 with another dementia and 179 PD and dementia-free older adults. Participants completed standardised delirium assessments including tests of attention: digit span, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) attention and months of the year backwards; and arousal: Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC), Observational Scale of Level of Arousal (OSLA), Modified Richmond Agitation Scale and MDAS consciousness. Delirium was diagnosed using the DSM-5 criteria.

RESULTS

On their first admission, 21.7%participants had prevalent delirium. Arousal measures accurately detected delirium in all participants (p < 0.01 for all), but only selected attention measures detected delirium in PD and dementia. In PD and dementia-free older adults, impaired digit span and OSLA were the optimal tests to detect delirium (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.838, p < 0.001) while in PD and dementia the optimal tests were MDAS attention and GCS (AUC=0.90 and 0.84, respectively, p < 0.001 for both).

CONCLUSION

Simple bedside tests of attention and arousal at a single visit could accurately detect delirium in PD, dementia and PD and dementia-free older adults; however, the optimal tests differed between groups. Combined attention and arousal scores increased accuracy, which could have clinical utility to aid the identification of delirium neurodegenerative disorders.

A retrospective multicentre cohort study of the performances on attention tests in outpatients with cognitive dysfunctions without delirium

OBJECTIVE

Attention is the cardinal feature of delirium, but attentional domains may also be affected by dementia and its severity. It is, therefore, of interest to study the correlation between the severity of cognitive impairment in non-delirious patients and different measurements of attentional performance, to identify attention subdomains less affected by severity of cognitive impairment.

METHODS

Neuropsychological data from non-delirious outpatients (age ≥ 65 years), presenting at two memory clinics were analysed retrospectively. Scores for selective, divided, and sustained attention were correlated with cognitive impairment as defined by the score of the Mini-Mental State Examination.

RESULTS

A total of 1658 outpatients were included. The mean age was 77.15 (± 8.17) years, with a mean MMSE score of 22.67 (± 4.91). Compared to the type of attention, the tests that are less influenced by the severity of cognitive impairment are those of selective attention, in particular the Digit Span Forward (DSF).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to correlate deficits in attention subdomains with the degree of cognitive impairment in non-delirious patients. The results suggest that measurements of selective attention (i.e. DSF) might be better suited to discriminate delirium from dementia. Indeed, a lower score on these tests might be indicative of an acute change and worsening of the baseline inattention and a longitudinal monitoring of these changes might be used to determine the delirium resolution.

Current Challenges in the Recognition and Management of Delirium Superimposed on Dementia

Delirium occurring in a patient with preexisting dementia is referred to as delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). DSD commonly occurs in older hospitalized patients and is associated with worse outcomes, including higher rates of mortality and institutionalization, compared to inpatients with delirium or dementia alone. This narrative review summarizes the screening, diagnosis, management, and pathophysiology of DSD and concludes by highlighting opportunities for future research. Studies were identified via Medline and PsycINFO keyword search, and handsearching reference lists. Conceptually, DSD could be considered an "acute exacerbation" of dementia precipitated by a noxious insult akin to an acute exacerbation of heart failure or acute on chronic renal failure. However, unlike other organ systems, there are no established biomarkers for delirium, so DSD is diagnosed and monitored clinically. Because cognitive dysfunction is common to both delirium and dementia, the diagnosis of DSD can be challenging. Inattention, altered levels of arousal, and motor dysfunction may help distinguish DSD from dementia alone. An informant history suggestive of an acute change in cognition or alertness should be investigated and managed as delirium until proven otherwise. The key management principles include prevention, identifying and treating the underlying precipitant(s), implementing multicomponent interventions to create an ideal environment for brain recovery, preventing complications, managing distress, and monitoring for resolution. Informing and involving family members or caregivers throughout the patient journey are essential because there is significant prognostic uncertainty, including the risk of persistent cognitive and functional decline following DSD and relapse. Furthermore, informal carers can provide significant assistance in management. Emerging evidence demonstrates that increased exposure to delirium is associated with neuronal injury and worse cognitive outcomes although the mechanisms through which this occurs remain unclear. Given the clinical overlap between delirium and dementia, studying shared pathophysiological pathways may uncover diagnostic tests and is an essential step in therapeutic innovation.

Post-operative delirium in older hip fracture patients: a new onset or was it already there?

PURPOSE

Hip fractures are a worldwide health issue primarily for older patients, conditioning major morbidity and mortality. An experienced multidisciplinary team is essential to manage surgery and peri-operative implications, to enable rapid functional and cognitive recovery. Delirium is a recognizable problem associated with negative outcomes. Our study aims to determine the influence of pre-operative delirium in the incidence of post-operative delirium, and to evaluate the association between other known peri-operative risk factors with both conditions.

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective cohort study, conducted at a Level II trauma center over a 14-month period, included 241 patients with 65 years of age or older submitted to hip fracture surgery. Peri-operative data were gathered regarding baseline characteristics (sociodemographic, functional and cognitive status), intra-operative events (anesthesia technique, surgery duration, blood loss) and post-operative outcomes (delirium occurrence).

RESULTS

Statistical analysis evidenced a female (75.5%) and elderly population (83.9 ± 7.8 years old) with significant comorbidities (cognitive impairment in 51.9%, ASA ≥ III in 79.7%, mean CIRS-G 8.83 ± 4.69) that underwent surgical fracture repair, mostly under 4 h (96.3%) and under regional anesthesia (63.1%). Pre- and post-operative delirium incidence was 18.3% and 12.9%, respectively, displaying increased presence according to cognitive impairment severity.

CONCLUSION

Post-operative delirium was almost inexistent when it was absent pre-operatively. Moreover, pre-operative cognitive status was associated with the development of pre- and post-operative delirium. Careful cognitive assessment, implementation of preventive strategies and avoidance of peri-operative pro-delirium factors are crucial for comprehensive geriatric care.

Delirium in the acute hospital setting: the role of psychiatry

In this overview we discuss the role of psychiatry in managing delirium in acute hospital admissions. We briefly discuss the role psychiatry can offer in four main domains: (a) assessment; (b) management; (c) recovery; and (d) paradigm, education and research. In the assessment section we discuss accurately detecting delirium in the context of comorbid mixed neuropsychiatric syndromes, including depression and dementia, and the clinical importance of delirium subtyping. The management section briefly outlines pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to delirium and their evidence-based rationale. The recovery section focuses on the effect delirium can have on cognitive decline, mental health and long-term health, including functional outcome and need for institutional care after hospital discharge. Finally, we outline the role of psychiatry in delirium research and education. We hope that this article will encourage clinicians to reflect on their current practice and consider holistic and evidence-based care for this vulnerable population in the acute hospital setting.

Fluctuating cognition in the Lewy body dementias

Fluctuating cognition is a core diagnostic feature of dementia with Lewy bodies and is also a key clinical feature of Parkinson's disease dementia. These dementias share common pathological features and are referred to as Lewy body dementias. Whilst highly prevalent in Lewy body dementia, with up to 90% of patients experiencing the symptom at some point in the disease trajectory, clinical identification of fluctuating cognition is often challenging. Furthermore, its underlying pathophysiological processes remain unclear. However, neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques have recently provided insight into potential drivers of the phenomenon. In this update, we review data pertaining to clinical features and underlying mechanisms of fluctuating cognition in Lewy body dementia. We collate evidence for different proposed aetiologies: fluctuating cognition as an attentional disorder, as a consequence of loss of cholinergic drive, as a manifestation of failure in neuronal efficiency and synchrony, and as a disorder of sleep/arousal. We also review data relating to putative mechanisms that have received less attention to date. Increased understanding of fluctuating cognition may help to illuminate pathophysiological mechanisms in cognitive processing in Lewy body dementia, guide future research, and facilitate the design of targeted therapeutic approaches.

Delirium in hospitalized older adults

Delirium is a common and underdiagnosed problem in hospitalized older adults. It is associated with an increased risk of poor cognitive and functional outcomes, institutionalization, and death. Timely diagnosis of delirium and non-pharmacological prevention and management strategies can improve patient outcomes. The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is the most widely used clinical assessment tool for the diagnosis of delirium. Multiple variations of the CAM have been developed for ease of administration and for the unique needs of specific patient populations, including the 3-min diagnostic CAM (3D CAM), CAM-Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), Delirium Triage Screen (DTS)/Brief CAM (b-CAM), 4AT tool, and ultrabrief delirium assessment. Strong evidence supports the effectiveness of nonpharmacologic strategies as the primary intervention for the prevention of delirium. Multicomponent delirium prevention strategies can reduce the incidence of delirium by 40%. Investigation of underlying medical precipitants and optimization of non-pharmacological interventions are first line in the management of delirium. Despite a lack of evidence supporting use of antipsychotics, low dose antipsychotics remain second line for off-label treatment of distressing psychoses and/or agitated behaviors that are refractory to non-pharmacological behavioral interventions and pose an imminent risk of harm to self or others. Any antipsychotic prescription for delirium should be accompanied by an appropriate taper plan. Follow up with primary care providers on discharge from hospital for ongoing screening of cognitive impairment is important.

Diagnosing delirium in patients with dementia, a great challenge

Delirium, despite its high incidence, serious consequences and potential reversibility, remains an underdiagnosed syndrome. In patients with dementia, the healthcare professional may find significant difficulties in differentiating whether the patient presents cognitive alterations and behavioural disorders characteristic of dementia or, on the contrary, is faced with a delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). In view of this difficulty, many tools have been proposed in recent years to improve the diagnosis of DSD in these highly complex patients. The aim of these tools is to be easy and quick to apply, and although focusing on assessing cognitive aspects such as attention or level of consciousness, some of them have also incorporated the assessment of other more novel aspects, such as the ability to respond to external stimuli (Arousal) or the degree of mobility.

Supporting general hospital staff to provide dementia sensitive care: A realist evaluation

BACKGROUND

There are an increasing number of interventions to improve hospital care for patients with dementia. Evidence for their impact on staff actions and patient outcomes is, however, limited and context dependent.

OBJECTIVE

To explain the factors that support hospital staff to provide dementia sensitive care and with what outcomes for patients with dementia.

DESIGN

A realist evaluation using a two-site case study approach.

SETTING

Two hospital trusts in the East of England. Site 1 had a ward for patients with dementia that would address their medical and mental health needs. Site 2 used a team of healthcare assistants, who had support from dementia specialist nurses, to work with patients with dementia across the hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Hospital staff who had a responsibility for inpatients with dementia (healthcare assistants, nurses, medical staff, allied healthcare professionals and support staff) (n = 36), patients with dementia (n = 28), and family carers of patients with dementia (n = 2).

METHODS

A three stage realist evaluation: 1) building the programme theory of what works and when; 2) testing the programme theory through empirical data (80 h non-participant observation, 42 interviews, 28 patient medical notes, 27 neuropsychiatric inventory, and documentary review); 3) synthesis and verification of findings with key stakeholders.

FINDINGS

The programme theory comprised six interconnected context-mechanism-outcome configurations: 1) knowledge and authority to respond to an unmet need; 2) role relevant training and opportunities for reflection; 3) clinical experts and senior staff promoting practices that are patient-focused; 4) engaging with opportunities to spend time with patients; 5) risk management as an opportunity for person-centred care; 6) valuing dementia care as skilled work. Effective interactions reduced patient distress and supported patient orientation. Training and allocation of staff time were of themselves insufficient to ensure dementia care was prioritised and valued as skilled work. Staff concerns about the consequences of adverse incidents and work pressures on the ward, even with support, took precedence and influenced the quality of their interactions with patients with dementia. A key finding linked to staff retention and developing capacity in the workforce to provide expert dementia care was that despite extra training and organisational endorsement, nursing staff did not regard dementia care as skilled nursing work.

CONCLUSIONS

There is increased awareness and organisational commitment to dementia-friendly healthcare in general hospitals. However, in addition to training and adapting the environment to the patient, further work is needed to make explicit the specialist skills required for effective dementia care.

Delirium in patients with dementia and in children: Overlap of symptoms profile and possible role for future diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Delirium in the extremes of the age spectrum may show similarities in presentations, and these similarities may provide information to develop tools for the diagnosis of delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). We sought to investigate the symptom profile and subtypes of delirium in patients with dementia, and in infants and preschool children.

METHODS

This was an exploratory analysis of previous prospective cohort studies that evaluated delirium with the DSM-IV criteria in patients with dementia, and in critically ill infants (< 2 years of age) and preschool children (2-5 years of age), respectively. Delirium subtypes were defined based on the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale.

RESULTS

We included 147 patients, 35 adult patients with delirium DSD, 80 infants, and 32 preschool children with delirium. Hypokinesia and apathy were common among both DSD (72%), infants (74%) and preschool children (75%) with delirium, whereas hallucinations and anxiety were less common in both adults with DSD (26%) and infants (10%) and preschool children (14%). Hypoactive delirium was most common delirium subtype among infants (68%) and preschoolers (76%), whereas RASS = 0 (alert) delirium was the most common among adult patients with DSD (55%).

CONCLUSIONS

The study reports similarities in the symptoms profile of delirium in a cohort of patients with dementia and delirium, and in infants and preschool-aged children with delirium. These preliminary findings might be informative to design future studies adapting delirium assessments used in in infants and preschool-aged children to patients with dementia, especially in the moderate to severe stages.

A survey of doctors on diagnosis and treatment of dementia with Lewy bodies: examination and treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms

BACKGROUND

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a progressive form of dementia, accompanied by a range of behavioural and psychological symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify current clinical practice for the treatment of DLB in Japan.

METHODS

We conducted a survey of medical doctors engaged in the management of dementia in Japan. Participants were divided into two groups: psychiatrists (Group P) and neurologists or neurosurgeons (Group NS). Doctors completed a questionnaire and we analysed their responses to compare the two groups with regard to diagnosis and treatment of DLB, and in particular the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

RESULTS

Responses suggested that Group P conducted biomarker examinations less frequently and decided on their own therapeutic strategies more frequently than did Group NS. Both groups most frequently selected hallucinations/delusions as the symptoms given highest treatment priority. More than 70% of respondents in both groups reported having difficulties in treating BPSD. Atypical antipsychotics were more frequently prescribed by Group P, but were also prescribed in 70% of patients in Group NS. A third of patients received atypical antipsychotics for more than 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

The responses to this survey highlighted the difficulties faced by clinicians managing patients with DLB and identified the need to effectively treat BPSD in such patients.

Dementia with Lewy bodies: Challenges in the diagnosis and management

OBJECTIVE

Dementia with Lewy bodies is the second most common form of neurodegenerative dementia in older age yet is often under-recognised and misdiagnosed. This review aims to provide an overview of the clinical features of dementia with Lewy bodies, discussing the frequent challenges clinicians experience in diagnosing dementia with Lewy bodies, and outlines a practical approach to the clinical management, particularly in the Australian setting.

METHODS

This paper is a narrative review and a semi-structured database (PubMed and MEDLINE) search strategy was implemented. Articles were screened and clinically relevant studies were selected for inclusion.

RESULTS

Dementia with Lewy bodies is clinically characterised by complex visual hallucinations, spontaneous motor parkinsonism, prominent cognitive fluctuations and rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder. Neuropsychiatric features and autonomic dysfunction are also common. The new diagnostic criteria and specific diagnostic biomarkers help to improve detection rates and diagnostic accuracy, as well as guide appropriate management. Clinical management of dementia with Lewy bodies is challenging and requires an individualised multidisciplinary approach with specialist input.

CONCLUSION

Dementia with Lewy bodies is a common form of dementia. It often presents as a diagnostic challenge to clinicians, particularly at early stages of disease, and in patients with mixed neuropathological changes, which occur in over 50% of people with dementia with Lewy bodies. Prompt diagnosis and comprehensive treatment strategies are important in improving patients' care.

Performance on bedside tests of attention and organized thinking in patients with dementia free from delirium

ABSTRACTObjectives:Bedside tests of attention and organized thinking were performed in patients with cognitive impairment or dementia but without delirium, to provide estimates of false positive rates for detecting delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD).

DESIGN AND SETTING

This cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatients and institutionalized patients without delirium representing a wide spectrum of severity of cognitive impairments.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with dementia or a cognitive disorder according to DSM IV criteria, after exclusion of (suspected) delirium according to DSM IV criteria.

MEASUREMENTS

Tests for inattention and disorganized thinking from the CAM-ICU were assessed.

RESULTS

The sample included 163 patients (mean age 83 years (SD 6; 64% women)), with Alzheimer's disease as most prevalent (45%) diagnosis and a mean MMSE-score of 16.8 (SD 7.5). False positive rates of the test of attention varied from 0.04 in patients with normal to borderline cognitive function to 0.8 in those with severe dementia. The false positive rate of the test of disorganized thinking was zero in the normal to borderline group, increasing to 0.67 in patients with severe dementia. When combining test results false positive rates decreased to 0.03 in patients with MMSE scores above 9.

CONCLUSION

Use of simple bedside tests of attention and organized thinking for the clinical diagnosis of DSD will result in high rates of false positive observations if used regardless of the severity of dementia. However, if test results are combined they may be useful to exclude DSD in patients with minimal to moderate degrees of dementia, but not in the severe group.

The Incidence of Recorded Delirium Episodes Before and After Dementia Diagnosis: Differences Between Dementia With Lewy Bodies and Alzheimer's Disease

OBJECTIVES

To describe the incidence of delirium recording before and after a diagnosis of dementia is established in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and compare findings to a matched cohort of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A cohort of patients with dementia from a large mental health and dementia care database in South London, linked to hospitalization and mortality data. We identified 194 patients with DLB and 1:4 matched these with 776 patients diagnosed with AD on age, gender, and cognitive status.

MEASURES

We identified delirium episodes recorded in mental health and hospital records from 1 year before to 1 year after dementia diagnosis. Using dementia diagnosis as an index date we additionally followed patients until first episode of delirium, death or a censoring point without restricting the observation period.

RESULTS

Patients with DLB had significantly more episodes of delirium recorded in the year before dementia diagnosis than patients with AD (incidence rate 17.6 vs 3.2 per 100 person-years; P < .001). Whereas the incidence of recording of delirium episodes reduced substantially in patients with DLB after dementia diagnosis, it remained significantly higher than in patients with AD (incidence rate 6.2 vs 2.3 per 100 person-years; P = .032). Cox regression models indicate that patients with DLB remain at a higher risk of delirium than patients with AD after a dementia diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE

Establishing a diagnosis of dementia reduces episodes classified as delirium in patients with DLB and might lead to fewer potentially harmful interventions such as hospitalization or use of antipsychotic medication.

Dementia case-finding in hospitals: a qualitative study exploring the views of healthcare professionals in English primary care and secondary care

OBJECTIVES

In 2012-2013, the English National Health Service mandated hospitals to conduct systematic case-finding of people with dementia among older people with unplanned admissions. The method was not defined. The aim of this study was to understand current approaches to dementia case-finding in acute hospitals in England and explore the views of healthcare professionals on perceived benefits and challenges.

DESIGN

Qualitative study involving interviews, focus groups and thematic content analysis.

SETTING

Primary care and secondary care across six counties in the East of England.

PARTICIPANTS

Hospital staff involved in dementia case-finding and primary care staff in the catchment areas of those hospitals.

RESULTS

We recruited 23 hospital staff and 36 primary care staff, including 30 general practitioners (GPs). Analysis resulted in three themes: (1) lack of consistent approaches in case-finding processes, (2) barriers between primary care and secondary care which impact on case-finding outcomes and (3) perceptions of rationale, aims and impacts of case-finding. The study shows that there were variations in how well hospitals recorded and reported outcomes to GPs. Barriers between primary care and secondary care, including GPs' lack of access to hospital investigations and lack of clarity about roles and responsibilities, impacted case-finding outcomes. Staff in secondary care were more positive about the initiative than primary care staff, and there were conflicting priorities for primary care and secondary care regarding case-finding.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests a more evidence-based approach was needed to justify approaches to dementia case-finding. Information communicated to primary care from hospitals needs to be comprehensive, appropriate and consistent before GPs can effectively plan further investigation, treatment or care. Follow-up in primary care further requires access to options for postdiagnostic support. There is a need to evaluate the outcomes for patients and the economic impact on health and care services across settings.

The delirium and population health informatics cohort study protocol: ascertaining the determinants and outcomes from delirium in a whole population

BACKGROUND

Delirium affects 25% of older inpatients and is associated with long-term cognitive impairment and future dementia. However, no population studies have systematically ascertained cognitive function before, cognitive deficits during, and cognitive impairment after delirium. Therefore, there is a need to address the following question: does delirium, and its features (including severity, duration, and presumed aetiologies), predict long-term cognitive impairment, independent of cognitive impairment at baseline?

METHODS

The Delirium and Population Health Informatics Cohort (DELPHIC) study is an observational population-based cohort study based in the London Borough of Camden. It is recruiting 2000 individuals aged ≥70 years and prospectively following them for two years, including daily ascertainment of all inpatient episodes for delirium. Daily inpatient assessments include the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, the Observational Scale for Level of Arousal, and the Hierarchical Assessment of Balance and Mobility. Data on delirium aetiology is also collected. The primary outcome is the change in the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status at two years.

DISCUSSION

DELPHIC is the first population sample to assess older persons before, during and after hospitalisation. The cumulative incidence of delirium in the general population aged ≥70 will be described. DELPHIC offers the opportunity to quantify the impact of delirium on cognitive and functional outcomes. Overall, DELPHIC will provide a real-time public health observatory whereby information from primary, secondary, intermediate and social care can be integrated to understand how acute illness is linked to health and social care outcomes.

Detecting delirium superimposed on dementia: diagnostic accuracy of a simple combined arousal and attention testing procedure

BACKGROUND

Detecting delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) can be challenging because assessment partly relies on cognitive tests that may be abnormal in both conditions. We hypothesized that a combined arousal and attention testing procedure would accurately detect DSD.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥70 years were recruited from five hospitals across Europe. Delirium was diagnosed by physicians using DSM-5 criteria using information from nurses, carers, and medical records. Dementia was ascertained by the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly. Arousal was measured using the Observational Scale of Level of Arousal (OSLA), which assesses eye opening, eye contact, posture, movement, and communication. Attention was measured by participants signaling each time an "A" was heard when "S-A-V-E-A-H-A-A-R-T" was read out.

RESULTS

The sample included 114 persons (mean age 82 years (SD 7); 54% women). Dementia alone was present in 25% (n = 28), delirium alone in 18% (n = 21), DSD in 27% (n = 31), and neither in 30% (n = 34). Arousal and attention was assessed in n = 109 (96%). Using OSLA, 83% participants were correctly identified as having delirium (sensitivity 85%, specificity 82%, AUROC 0.92). The attention task correctly classified 76% of participants with delirium (sensitivity 90%, specificity 64%, AUROC 0.80). Combining scores correctly classified 91% of participants with delirium (sensitivity 84%, specificity 92%, AUROC 0.94). Diagnostic accuracy remained high in the subgroup with dementia (93% correctly classified, sensitivity 94%, specificity 92%, AUROC 0.98).

CONCLUSIONS

This combined arousal-attention assessment to detect DSD was brief yet had high diagnostic accuracy. Such an approach could have clinical utility for diagnosing DSD.

Implementing Nurse-Facilitated Person-Centered Care Approaches for Patients With Delirium Superimposed on Dementia in the Acute Care Setting

Little is understood about the use of person-centered care (PCC) for individuals with delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD), especially in the acute care setting. As part of a larger clinical trial, the purpose of the current exploratory study was to describe examples and qualitatively derived themes of nurse-facilitated PCC for hospitalized older adults with dementia and delirium. A total of 750 delirium rounds were analyzed across three diverse acute care sites. Qualitative derived themes of PCC included: (a) Knowing the Patient's Baseline; (b) Knowing the Patient's Interests and Values; (c) Enhancing Sensory Abilities to Communicate; (d) Individualizing Cognitive Stimulation; and (e) Enhancing Behavioral Approaches to Comfort and Sleep. Barriers included failure to see the patient as an individual and lack of time. Principles of PCC were effectively used, demonstrating the potential for PCC to ease the burden of DSD for all members of the health care team. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 43(12), 21-28.].

One-year mortality after hip fracture in older individuals: the effects of delirium and dementia

BACKGROUND

Delirium is common in older hip fracture patients, yet its association with mortality after hip fracture remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine whether delirium was associated with all-cause one-year mortality after hip fracture in older patients and whether the effect of delirium was independent of dementia status.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis of linked hospitalisation and mortality data for patients aged ≥65 years with a hip fracture during 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2014 in New South Wales, Australia. The association between delirium and mortality after a hip fracture was assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression.

RESULTS

There were 4,065 (14.6%) of 27,888 hip fracture hospitalisations identified with delirium during hospitalisation. Individuals with delirium had a higher age-adjusted rate of all-cause one-year mortality after hip fracture compared to individuals without delirium (35.3% versus 23.9%). After adjusting for covariates, the risk of all-cause mortality was increased at one-year post-admission for older individuals compared to those aged 65-69 years, for individuals with multiple comorbidities, dementia (Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.14; 95%CI:1.08-1.20), delirium (HR: 1.19; 95%CI:1.12-1.26), and who had an Intensive Care Unit admission (HR: 1.44; 95%CI:1.31-1.59). Comorbid delirium did not add additional mortality risk for individuals with a hip fracture who have dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

Delirium identified in hospital was associated with all-cause one-year mortality after hip fracture in older Australians without dementia. As delirium is potentially preventable, better systematic assessment and documentation of a hip fracture patient's cognitive state is warranted to select the most effective strategies to prevent and manage delirium.

Detection and Management of Preexisting Cognitive Impairment in the Critical Care Unit

Older adults account for half of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and ICU days, and approximately 2 in 5 older adults in the ICU have preexisting cognitive impairment (PCI). PCI identification is important for risk stratification and may influence ICU utilization and decision-making surrogacy. PCI is overlooked in more than half of patients without screening; however, screening instruments can identify PCI in less than 5 minutes. Management of PCI in the ICU involves addressing associated neuropsychiatric symptoms. Nonpharmacological interventions should be considered the mainstay of treatment; psychotropics may be considered, although available data on their efficacy is limited.

The Diagnosis of Delirium Superimposed on Dementia: An Emerging Challenge

Delirium occurring in patients with dementia is referred to as delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). People who are older with dementia and who are institutionalized are at increased risk of developing delirium when hospitalized. In addition, their prior cognitive impairment makes detecting their delirium a challenge. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision are considered the standard reference for the diagnosis of delirium and include criteria of impairments in cognitive processes such as attention, additional cognitive disturbances, or altered level of arousal. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision does not provide guidance regarding specific tests for assessment of the cognitive process impaired in delirium. Importantly, the assessment or inclusion of preexisting cognitive impairment is also not addressed by these standards. The challenge of DSD gets more complex as types of dementia, particularly dementia with Lewy bodies, which has features of both delirium and dementia, are considered. The objective of this article is to critically review key elements for the diagnosis of DSD, including the challenge of neuropsychological assessment in patients with dementia and the influence of particular tests used to diagnose DSD. To address the challenges of DSD diagnosis, we present a framework for guiding the focus of future research efforts to develop a reliable reference standard to diagnose DSD. A key feature of a reliable reference standard will improve the ability to clinically diagnose DSD in facility-based patients and research studies.

Detecting Delirium Superimposed on Dementia: Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale

OBJECTIVES

Delirium disproportionately affects patients with dementia and is associated with adverse outcomes. The diagnosis of delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD), however, can be challenging due to several factors, including the absence of caregivers or the severity of preexisting cognitive impairment. Altered level of consciousness has been advocated as a possible useful indicator of delirium in this population. Here we evaluated the performance of the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) and the modified-RASS (m-RASS), an ultra-brief measure of the level of consciousness, in the diagnosis of DSD.

DESIGN

Multicenter prospective observational study. RASS and m-RASS results were analyzed together, labeled RASS/m-RASS.

SETTING

Acute geriatric wards, in-hospital rehabilitation, emergency department.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients 65 years and older with dementia.

MEASUREMENTS

Delirium was diagnosed with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) or with the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised (DRS-R-98), or with the 4 A's Test (4AT). Dementia was detected with the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale, the Short Form-Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) or via the clinical records.

RESULTS

Of the 645 patients included, 376 (58%) had delirium. According to the instrument used to evaluate delirium, the prevalence was 66% with the 4AT, 23% with the DSM, and 100% with the DRS-R-98. Overall a RASS/m-RASS score other than 0 was 70.5% sensitive (95% confidence interval [CI] 65.9%-75.1%) and 84.8% (CI 80.5%-89.1%) specific for DSD. Using a RASS/m-RASS value greater than +1 or less than -1 as a cutoff, the sensitivity was 30.6% (CI 25.9%-35.2%) and the specificity was 95.5% (CI 93.1%-98.0%). The sensitivity and the specificity did not greatly vary according to the method of delirium diagnosis and the dementia ascertainment, although the specificity was slightly higher when the DSM and the IQCODE were used.

CONCLUSION

In older patients admitted to different clinical settings, the RASS and m-RASS analyzed as a single group had moderate sensitivity and very high specificity for the detection of DSD. Level of consciousness is therefore a valuable clinical indicator that should form part of delirium screening strategies, although for higher sensitivity other methods of assessment should be used.