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Impact of Delirium on Short-Term Mortality in Elderly Inpatients: A Prospective Cohort Study

Received July 17, 2008; revised October 6, 2008; accepted October 7, 2008. From the Psychiatry Department, Internal Medicine Department, Geriatric Program, and Medical Faculty, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Marcela Carrasco, M.D., Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Internal Medicine, Santiago-Chile RM, Chile. e-mail: mcarras{at}med.puc.cl Alternate corresponding author: Matías González, Ph.D. e-mail: magonza@med.puc.cl
© 2009 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Delirium is an important problem especially in older medical inpatients. OBJECTIVE: The authors asked whether delirium and its duration are associated with higher mortality in a 3-month follow-up period. METHOD: In this prospective cohort study, inpatients age 65 and older were assessed every 48 hours with the Confusion Assessment Method. RESULTS: Of 542 patients enrolled, 192 (35.4%) developed delirium. After 3 months, mortality in the delirium cohort was 25.9%, and in the nondelirium cohort was 5.8%. Delirium was independently associated with mortality, and increased by 11% for every 48 hours of delirium. CONCLUSION: Delirium and increased delirium durations are significantly associated with higher mortality.

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