Identification through the Manchester Triage System of the older population at risk of delirium: A case-control study

The 4AT scale for rapid detection of delirium in emergency department triage

Aims

To assess the diagnostic accuracy and time impact of the 4AT scale in emergency department triage.

Methods

A Prospective diagnostic accuracy study was carried out. People aged ≥65 years presenting to the emergency department from 1 November 2021 to 30 June 2022 were included. Nurses opportunistically screened eligible patients using the 4AT scale during triage according to the Manchester Triage System Francesc de Borja Hospital emergency department, Gandía (Spain). Accuracy was compared with medical diagnosis of delirium. Time (seconds) spent in triage with and without screening was assessed.

Results

The study included 370 patients (55.1% men, mean age 81.8 years), of whom 58.4% (n = 216) were screened. A final diagnosis of delirium was made in 41.4% of those screened. The most frequently used presentational flow charts and discriminators were 'behaving strangely' (15%) and 'rapid onset' (33.3%). The highest accuracy was obtained for a score of 3 points or more (sensitivity 85.1%; specificity 66.9%; positive predictive value 52.8%; negative predictive value 71.7%). No significant differences were found in the time spent in triage according to the performance of screening.

Conclusion

A score of 3 points or more on the 4AT scale enables rapid detection of delirium in emergency department triage, without consuming more time than conventional triage.

A Lethal Combination of Delirium and Overcrowding in the Emergency Department

Delirium is a common public health concern that significantly impacts older patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED). This condition is linked to adverse outcomes such as reduced long-term functionality, higher mortality rates, extended hospital stays, and increased medical costs. The identification of risk factors is crucial for the early recognition and management of delirium in ED patients. Aging, cognitive decline, polypharmacy, and sensory impairment are some of the most common general risk factors described in the literature. Although validated delirium assessment tools already exist, they are not practical for the fast-paced ED environment because of their extended evaluation period or specialized training request. Moreover, clear guidance is needed to select the most suitable tool for detecting delirium, balancing between the accuracy and the swiftness required in an overcrowded, high-stress, and understaffed healthcare setting. This narrative review aims to analyze the updated literature on delirium risk factors in older ED patients and focuses on the methods for better screening, managing, and treating this condition in the ED.

Clinical Risk Group as a predictor of mortality in delirious older adults in the emergency department

BACKGROUND

In older people, chronicity is associated with delirium, which in turn increases the risk of developing poor clinical outcomes like nursing home admission and death. The aim is to determine whether chronicity, as assessed by Clinical Risk Groups (CRG), is an independent predictor of mortality in older adults with delirium seen in the emergency department (ED).

METHODS

Prospective study with 18-month follow-up. Included patients were aged 65 years or older, admitted from 1 January to 31 December 2020, and diagnosed and coded for delirium in the ED of a secondary hospital. Patients were followed for 18 months. A survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The study included 125 patients (56 % men, mean age 81.2 years, standard deviation [SD] 7.5). At baseline, level 0 chronicity was present in 4.7 % of the patients; level 1, 23.4 %; level 2, 32.8 %; and level 3, 39.1 %. By study end, 29.68 % (n = 38) had died. Mean survival in the total sample was 176.6 (standard error 25.8) days. Level 3 chronicity was associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio 3.41, 95 % confidence interval 1.31-8.96).

CONCLUSIONS

Level 3 chronicity, as assessed by Clinical Risk Groups, is an independent predictor of mortality in older ED patients with delirium. Delirium leads to an increased level of chronicity over the following months.

Challenges in the Detection of Clinically Useful Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Delirium in Older People in the Emergency Department-A Case-Control Study

Background: The identification of biomarkers associated with delirium in the emergency department could contribute to the understanding, prediction and diagnosis of this disorder. The present study was carried out to identify biomarkers included in easily and quickly obtained standard blood examinations in older patients with delirium in the emergency department. Methods: A case–control study was carried out in the emergency department of Francesc de Borja Hospital (Gandía, Valencia, Spain). Older adults (≥65 years of age) diagnosed with delirium (n = 128) were included. Cases due to alcohol or substance abuse were excluded. Controls were selected on a randomized basis from the remaining patients (n = 128). All laboratory test parameters included in the routine blood and urine tests of the emergency department were collected. Results: The mean age of the patients was 81.24 ± 7.51 years, and 56.2% were males, while the mean age of the controls was 78.97 ± 7.99 years, and 45.3% were males. Significant differences were found between the cases and controls in relation to the following parameters: urea 43 (32–58) mg/dL versus 50 (37–66) mg/dL, respectively; neutrophils 69.6 (62.05–78.75)% versus 75.5 (65.1–83.2)%; monocytes 8.7 (7–10.4)% versus 7.6 (5.5–9.2)%; platelets 213 (159–266) × 10⁹/L versus 224 (182–289) × 10⁹/L; neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio 3.88 (2.45–7.07) versus 5 (2.75–8.83); platelet–lymphocyte ratio 281.4 (210–360) versus 357.1 (257.8–457.1); and mean platelet volume 10.6 (10–11.5) fl versus 10.4 (9.67–10.9) fl. Although the mean values were above desirable levels in both groups, they were higher for most parameters in the control group. No significant differences were observed in C-reactive protein concentration (9.99 (1.69–51) mg/L versus 12.3 (3.09–65.97) mg/L). Conclusions: The identification of delirium biomarkers poses difficulties due to the urgent nature of the disorders found in older people admitted to the emergency department. Research in this field is needed, since it would allow early identification and treatment of delirium.