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KMID : 0385920110220050489
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Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2011 Volume.22 No. 5 p.489 ~ p.493
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Risk Factors for Delirium in Elderly Patients Visiting an Emergency Department
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Kwak Kyung-Hoon
Do Byung-Soo
Park Sin-Youl
Lee Sam-Beom
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Abstract
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Purpose: Delirium is a common and worrisome problem among elder hospitalized patients. Many studies have
sought to evaluate the risk factors of delirium. Most of these studies have dealt with the intensive care unit, with virtually
nothing known about the emergency room. Our study was designated to evaluate the risk factors in an emergency
department.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 414 cases of elder patients admitted to the general ward of internal medicine via the emergency room between January 2009 and December 2009. We divided these patients into a delirium
group and non-delirium group. We statistically evaluated 31 known risk factors of delirium in these two groups.
Results: Using chi-square test, 14 of 31 known risk factors of delirium were proven as risk factors of delirium in an
emergency room. Using logistic regression, three of the 14 proven risk factors were revealed as prior factors.
Conclusion: A variety of factors of delirium are risk factors of delirium in an emergency room. A few important known risk factors are failed to pass statistically evaluation. These results are influenced by cultural pecularities of South
Korea. Also, the small sample size limited conclusive evaluation. Nonetheless, the importance of patients’ past medical
history, laboratory results, and choice of medication when treating elder hospitalized patients to prevent delirium is likely important in reducing mortality and morbidity.
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KEYWORD
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Delirium, Elderly, Risk factors
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