Impact of a Premorbid Psychiatric Disorder on the Incidence of Delirium during ICU Stay, Morbidity, and Long-Term Mortality

The Independent Association of Prestroke Psychiatric Symptoms and Acute Phase Delirium with Poststroke Mortality at One Year in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Undetected acute phase delirium contributes to high poststroke mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The present study adds to existing literature by examining the association of prestroke psychiatric symptoms with poststroke mortality at 3 and 12 months in Nigeria.

METHODS

A prospective observational study with repeated delirium assessments conducted using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Delirium was characterised in participants meeting criteria in the Fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM-V) as well as in those with ≥two core delirium features. Prestroke psychiatric symptoms were ascertained using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q). Information on mortality was obtained by research supervisors during medical follow-up. Associations were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analyses and presented as odds ratios (O.R) within 95% confidence intervals (C.I).

RESULTS

Forty-five (30%) of 150 participants who provided data in the first week of stroke died by one-year follow-up. Those who died were more likely to have had a prestroke psychiatric symptom (64.4%, p=0.005) and delirium in the acute phase (60.0%, p=0.002). In analyses adjusting for the effect of age, education, tobacco smoking and stroke severity, prestroke psychiatric symptoms (O.R=3.3, 95% C.I=1.3,8.2; O.R=2.2, 95% C.I=1.0,4.6) and acute phase delirium (O.R=3.1, 95% C.I= 1.2,7.6; O.R=3.4, 95% C.I=1.5, 7.6) predicted mortality at 3 and 12 months poststroke, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study found that prestroke psychiatric symptoms and acute phase delirium independently predicted post-stroke mortality at 3- and 12 months. Detection and treatment of mental health conditions in the population at increased risk of stroke may help reduce poststroke mortality in SSA.

Pre-existing mental health disorders in patients admitted to the intensive care unit: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence

AIMS

To determine the reported prevalence rate of pre-existing mental health disorders in patients admitted to adult ICUs and identify the most commonly occurring types of these disorders.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Five electronic databases were searched from 1 January 2000 -15 April 2020. Google Scholar was used to perform forwards citation searching.

METHODS

This review was conducted in line with the PRISMA guidelines and protocol registered with PROSPERO CRD42020181818. Meta-analyses were performed using the quality effects model to calculate weighted pooled prevalence estimates and heterogeneity was tested using the I² statistic.

RESULTS

Seven articles were included in the final review and meta-analysis (143,179 participants). Identified prevalence rates varied considerably, ranging from 6.2-28.0%, reflecting variation in each study's clinical context, as well as different patient selection and identification methodologies. The pooled prevalence rate of all pre-existing mental health disorders was 19.4% (95% CI 8.9-32.6%). Depression was the most common subtype, accounting for an estimated 60.5% (95% CI 54.4-66.5%) of identified mental health disorders. All analyses showed significant heterogeneity with I²  > 95%.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 19% of adult ICU patients have a history of a mental health disorder, most commonly depression. Further research is needed to improve the accuracy of this estimate as well as determine the best identification method.

IMPACT

This study has demonstrated that patients with pre-existing mental health disorders, particularly depression, constitute a significant subgroup in ICU. Given that the presence of a pre-existing mental health disorder appears to confer an increased mortality risk following ICU discharge, clinicians need to be made aware of this group of patients to provide additional support. Further research is needed to more accurately quantify this vulnerable group and establish methods to enable clinicians to readily identify and refer these patients for appropriate follow-up treatment.

The Epidemiology and Outcomes of Mental Disorders in Critically Ill Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Population-Based Study

Background

Hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often require critical care, and SLE is the most common autoimmune disease in the intensive care unit (ICU). Mental disorders are highly prevalent among patients with SLE and are associated with increased morbidity and premature death in this population. However, the association of mental disorders with ICU utilization among patients with SLE and their prognostic impact among those admitted to ICU is unknown.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study, using the Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File to identify SLE hospitalizations aged ≥ 18 years during 2009 - 2014. Mental disorders were defined by the taxonomy of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s Clinical Classification Software Category 5. The patterns of ICU admission among SLE hospitalizations with and without mental disorders were examined. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to examine the association of mental disorders and short-term mortality (defined as hospital death or discharge to hospice) among ICU admissions.

Results

Among 94,338 SLE hospitalizations 35,793 (37.9%) had mental disorders. There was no difference in the rates of ICU admission among SLE hospitalizations with and without mental disorders (37% vs. 37.2%, respectively; P = 0.5999), and similar rates of mental disorders were found among SLE hospitalizations with and without ICU admission (37.8% vs. 38%, respectively; P = 0.5408). The volume of SLE ICU admissions with and without mental disorders rose between 2009 and 2014 by 60.3% vs. 7.9%, respectively. When compared to those without mental disorders, SLE ICU admissions with mental disorders were older (age ≥ 65 years, 23.6% vs. 21.4%, respectively) and had higher burden of comorbid conditions. Unadjusted short-term mortality among SLE ICU admissions with and without mental disorders was 4.8% and 5.8%, respectively and mental disorders were associated with lower short-term mortality on adjusted analyses (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.826; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.734 - 0.930).

Conclusions

There was no difference in the frequency of mental disorders among hospitalized patients with SLE with and without ICU admission. However, the growth in the volume of ICU admissions with SLE over time involved predominantly patients with mental disorders. Among ICU admissions, mental disorders were associated with lower short-term mortality.