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Prevalence and management of delirium in community dwelling older people with dementia referred to a memory clinic

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Abstract

Objective

Our aim was to measure the prevalence of delirium, its clinical features, and outcomes in older patients referred to a memory clinic.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of 109 older outpatients with delirium referred to a memory clinic with a home care service. Delirium was diagnosed using the confusion assessment method and dementia with the DSM-5 criteria. We collected information on cognitive and functional status, mortality, institutionalization, and hospitalization during 6 months following the delirium episode.

Results

Delirium prevalence was 3.6%, mostly of hyperactive type. Delirium worsened functional (ADL 2.95 ± 1.95 vs. 2.16 ± 1.84) and cognitive (MMSE 13.88 ± 8.96 vs.11.0 ± 9.49) status after 6 months compared to the baseline. The mortality rate was 29.4%, and 28.3% were admitted to a long-term facility after the episode of delirium. Of these patients, more than half were hospitalized during the follow-up. Of the 109 patients with delirium, 85 were managed at home and 24 were hospitalized. Patients who were hospitalized had more severe behavioral symptoms during the delirium episode. There was no difference in mortality and institutionalization according to the home or hospital management.

Conclusions

This retrospective cohort study adds novel information to the existing literature of an understudied setting and population. The study supports the need to further investigate the feasibility and efficacy of the hospital at home models for the prevention and management of delirium in a high-risk population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cognitive Disorders and Dementia Unit, Modena Health Authority and Services, Primary Care, Modena, Italy

    Barbara Manni, Lucia Federzoni, Patrizia Zucchi & Andrea Fabbo

  2. Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

    Chiara Mussi

  3. REFiT Bcn Research Group, ParcSanitari Pere Virgili and Valld’Hebrón Institute of Research, Barcelona, Spain

    Marco Inzitari, Cristina Arnal Carda & Alessandro Morandi

  4. Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care “Fondazione Camplani” Hospital, Hospital Ancelle, Via Aselli 14, 26100, Cremona, Italy

    Alessandro Morandi

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  1. Barbara Manni
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  2. Lucia Federzoni
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  3. Patrizia Zucchi
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  4. Chiara Mussi
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  5. Marco Inzitari
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  7. Andrea Fabbo
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  8. Alessandro Morandi
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Correspondence to Alessandro Morandi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The Health Trust (AUSL) of Modena approved the study.

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The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Manni, B., Federzoni, L., Zucchi, P. et al. Prevalence and management of delirium in community dwelling older people with dementia referred to a memory clinic. Aging Clin Exp Res 33, 2243–2250 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01753-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01753-3

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