Mintz NB, Andrews N, Pan K, Bessette E, Asaad WF, Sherif M, Rubinos C, Mahta A, Girard TD, Reznik ME. Prevalence of clinical electroencephalography findings in stroke patients with delirium.
Clin Neurophysiol 2024;
162:229-234. [PMID:
38548493 PMCID:
PMC11185045 DOI:
10.1016/j.clinph.2024.03.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Delirium is an acute cognitive disorder associated with multiple electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities in non-neurological patients, though specific EEG characteristics in patients with stroke remain unclear. We aimed to compare the prevalence of EEG abnormalities in stroke patients during delirium episodes with periods that did not correspond to delirium.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed clinical EEG reports for stroke patients who received daily delirium assessments as part of a prospective study. We compared the prevalence of EEG features corresponding to patient-days with vs. without delirium, including focal and generalized slowing, and focal and generalized epileptiform abnormalities (EAs).
RESULTS
Among 58 patients who received EEGs, there were 192 days of both EEG and delirium monitoring (88% [n = 169] corresponding to delirium). Generalized slowing was significantly more prevalent on days with vs. without delirium (96% vs. 57%, p = 0.03), as were bilateral or generalized EAs (38% vs. 13%, p = 0.03). In contrast, focal slowing (53% vs. 74%, p = 0.11) and focal EAs were less prevalent on days with delirium (38% vs. 48%, p = 0.37), though these differences were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
We found a higher prevalence of generalized but not focal EEG abnormalities in stroke patients with delirium.
SIGNIFICANCE
These findings may reinforce the diffuse nature of delirium-associated encephalopathy, even in patients with discrete structural lesions.
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