Abstract
Delirium severity and motor subtypes are independently associated with poor patient outcomes. However, the relationship between these are not well understood. This systematic review examined the association between delirium severity scores and outcomes for the delirium motor subtypes. Electronic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed NBIB from inception to July 2022 and reference lists were hand-searched. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts and full texts and assessed the quality of included studies. One reviewer extracted data. There were 19 articles included with a total of 5,607 patients. Delirium severity scores were used in these studies to predict/stratify risk, assess prognosis, gauge changes in motor disturbance, evaluate symptom burden, and guide treatment. The relationship between motor subtype severity and risk factors, length of stay, mortality and institutionalization were inconclusive. More severe hyperactive delirium was associated with greater illness severity, more nursing care, and greater sedative and psychotropic medication use. More severe hypoactive delirium was associated with increased delirium duration and greater cognitive impairment. A limited number of studies have investigated delirium severity of the motor subtypes in association with outcomes. This systematic review found the relationship between delirium severity scores and patient outcomes categorized by delirium motor subtypes is confounded by differences in assessment tools and patient populations between studies. Future research should focus on the standardization of delirium measurement tools, including severity and subtyping methods, to evaluate differences between delirium motor subtype severity and related patient outcomes.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Medical Perspectives on Aging, Health, Wellness
KEYWORDS
Delirium, Severity and Subtypes, Patient Outcomes, Geriatric Medicine
