Italian intersociety consensus on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of delirium in hospitalized older persons

Publication date: Available online 19 July 2017 Source:European Geriatric Medicine Author(s): G. Bellelli, A. Morandi, M. Trabucchi, G. Caironi, D. Coen, C. Fraticelli, C. Paolillo, C. Prevaldi, A. Riccardi, G. Cervellin, C. Carabellese, S. Putignano, A. Cherubini, P. Gnerre, A. Fontanella, N. Latronico, C. Tommasino, A. Corcione, G. Ricevuti, N. Ferrara, F. De Filippi, A. Ferrari, M. Guarino, M.P. Ruggieri, P.A. Modesti, F. Perticone, C. Locatelli, P. Hrelia, M.O. Toscano, E. Bondi, A. Tarasconi, L. Ansaloni, S. Maggi Delirium is a severe neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by inattention and global cognitive dysfunction in the setting of an acute medical illness, medical complication, drug intoxication or drug withdrawal. The most important risk factors are advanced age and dementia whereas pain, dehydration, infections, stroke, metabolic disturbances, and surgery are the most common triggering factors. Although delirium is a common clinical syndrome in different setting of care (acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, and hospices) it often remains under-recognised, poorly understood and not adequately managed then there exists a clear need for improved understanding to overcome cultural stereotypes and for the development and dissemination of a comprehensive model of implementation of general good practice points. A network of Italian national scientific societies was thus convened (1) to develop a c...
Source: European Geriatric Medicine - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research