Zhong et al reported the Delirium Risk Index based on a count of comorbid conditions. The authors are from Icahn Scholl of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, Emory University, and the Atlanta VA Health Care System.
Patient selection: older adult undergoing orthopedic surgery (hip fracture, knee arthroplasty)
Parameters:
(1) psychosis
(2) alcohol abuse
(3) dementia
(4) weight loss
(5) neurologic disorder
(6) depression
(7) fluid and electrolyte disorder
(8) congestive heart failure
(9) drug abuse
(10) myocardial infarction
(11) coagulopathy
(12) cerebrovascular disease
(13) renal failure
(14) pulmonary circulation disease
Parameter
Finding
Points
psychosis
absent
0
present
6
alcohol abuse
absent
0
present
6
dementia
absent
0
present
4
weight loss
absent
0
present
2
neurologic disorder
absent
0
present
2
depression
absent
0
present
2
fluid and electrolyte disorder
absent
0
present
2
congestive heart failure
absent
0
present
1
drug abuse
absent
0
present
1
myocardial infarction
absent
0
present
1
coagulopathy
absent
0
present
1
cerebrovascular disease
absent
0
present
1
renal failure
absent
0
present
1
pulmonary circulation disease
absent
0
present
1
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 31
• The higher the score the greater the risk of delirium.
Performance:
• The area under the ROC curve is 0.68.
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