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Home > Why do we need to know about delirium?

Why do we need to know about delirium?

Delirium is common

two older adults.

Delirium is very common. The following information describes some of the key statistics about delirium:

  • Delirium affects 1 in 4 (25%) older adults who attend accident and emergency.  
  • Delirium affects 50% of people on a geriatric assessment ward in a general hospital.
  • Delirium affects up to 25% of care home residents at any one time.

Delirium is often unrecognised

Delirium often goes unrecognised by health care professionals with other illness being diagnosed instead. This is understandable, for example, it may be especially difficult to recognise the signs of delirium in a patient with a type of dementia or someone with a mental health issue as the signs and symptoms can be confused.

The main aim of this course is to raise awareness of delirium, explain the signs and symptoms and encourage people to ask the question, “Is this person more confused lately?”

This question is known as the single question in delirium (SQiD).

Someone who is caring for the person, perhaps a nurse, family member or carer can recognise the acute changes (within a matter of hours or days) in the person who is suffering from delirium. 

Delirium is associated with serious complications

  • Functional and cognitive decline.
  • Up to eight times more likely to get dementia.
  • Increased length of stay in hospital.
  • Institutionalisation.
  • Patient and carer distress.
  • Increased morbidity and mortality (death).

Delirium is preventable

Delirium is preventable in 30% of cases (NICE, 2020) and there are things you can do to prevent delirium in anyone at risk. The table below shows the different ways of helping to prevent delirium and things which may make the situation worse.

Things that might prevent delirium:

  • Avoid moving the person unnecessarily and keep their surroundings familiar.
  • Request a review if the person is taking multiple medications.
  • Make sure support is provided by carers who are familiar to the person.

Will not help prevent delirium:

  • Let anybody provide care for the person.
  • Do not monitor the person’s medication.
  • Move the person frequently and take them to unfamiliar places.

Consider more:

  1. Can you understand why delirium might go unrecognised? 
  2. Will you use the single question in delirium (SQiD)? “Have they been more confused lately?”