Undiagnosed delirium is frequent and difficult to predict: Results from a prevalence survey of a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To study the prevalence and determinants of undiagnosed delirium in a tertiary hospital. Background: Delirium is a common inpatient condition. It is frequently undiagnosed in a variety of settings, but determinants of undiagnosed delirium are largely unknown, and the frequency of undiagnosed delirium across all inpatient units is uncertain. The utility of hospital-wide screening then is also uncertain. Methods: Hospital-wide prevalence study conducted over 4 months, using a chart-based method. Gender, age, admitting unit, history of dementia and comorbidity were used in univariate and multivariate analyses to search for differences in patients with no delirium, with undi..