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Scholarly Commons > HCA Healthcare Journal > Vol. 6 > Iss. 5 (2025)

 

Keywords

delirium; delirium/epidemiology; aged; in-hospital mortality; comorbidity; length of stay; hospitalization; risk factors; health status disparities; frailty

Disciplines

Geriatrics | Internal Medicine | Psychiatry | Radiation Medicine

Abstract

Background

Limited information exists on the characteristics of older adults admitted with delirium at risk of poor hospital outcomes. This study aims to identify risk factors present on admission that are associated with hospital mortality and length of stay (LOS) among older adults admitted with delirium.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of 5598 patients 65 years of age or older who were admitted to acute care units at 8 community hospitals with an International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code of delirium.

Results

Multivariate regression analyses revealed that in-hospital mortality increase was associated with increased age, Asian race, various medical comorbidities, abnormal agitation-sedation score, abnormal blood urea nitrogen level, intensive care unit admission, and opioid use. Increased LOS was associated with male sex, Asian race, Black race, Medicaid insurance, chronic lung disease, renal disease, and antipsychotic use.

Conclusion

This study identified a subgroup with specific demographic and clinical characteristics associated with an increased risk of hospital mortality and increased LOS among older patients admitted with delirium. This subgroup would likely benefit from targeted interventions that may address potential health care inequalities among older adults with delirium.

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