Schor et al evaluated risk factors for delirium in elderly patients in the hospital. These can help identify a patient who may require closer monitoring and early intervention. Most of the findings can be identified at the time of admission. The authors are from Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged (Boston), Harvard University, Beth Israel Hospital, Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York) and Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center (Chicago).
Patient selection: age >= 65 years of age
Parameters:
(1) gender
(2) age
(3) history of cognitive impairment
(4) symptomatic infection
(5) fracture on admission
(6) medications
Parameter
Finding
Points
gender of the patient
female
0
male
1
age of the patient
<= 80 years
0
> 80 years
1
history of previous cognitive impairment
none
0
present
1
symptomatic infection
none
0
present
1
fracture on admission
none
0
present
1
medications
narcoleptic
1
narcotic use
1
other drugs
0
number of risk factors =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of risk factors: 0
• maximum number of risk factors: 7
• The more risk factors that are present the greater the risk for delirium.
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