Table 3.
Characteristics of Studies of Delirium Prevalence in the General Population
| Population and Setting | Design | Delirium Ascertainment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point-prevalence | |||
| East Baltimore Mental Health Survey53 | Census blocks, random sample 18–64 years old and all residents age 65 years and older | NIMH DIS, with clinical assessment of random subsample (n = 398) and any others with positive DIS response (n = 412) | Standardized Psychiatric Examination and psychiatric assessment (DSM-III and ICD-9) |
| CSHA55 | Random sample of all adults age 65 years and older clustered in five regions of Canada, over sampling adults age 75 years and older | Clinical examination of random subsample (n = 2,914) including all institutionalized adults and screen-positives for cognitive impairment (3MS <78/100) | DSM-III-R applied at consensus conference based on neuropsychiatric evaluation from nurse and physician. Delirium given as primary diagnosis if no underlying dementia diagnosis |
| Girona54 | Door-to-door sampling of adults age 70 years and older (n = 1,581 eligible) | All screened participants (n = 1,460) with MMSE scores <24 (n = 335) and random sample with MMSE scores ≥24 (n = 314) | Neurologist- and psychologist-administered CAMDEX |
| Period-prevalence | |||
| GERDA56 | All women aged 90 years and older, 50% of those aged 85–89 years | All participants (n = 503) examined by using MMSE and OBS scale | DSM-IV applied based on study information, informant/caregiver interviews, medical records (1-month period) |
| Vantaa 85+57 | Recruitment of all adults resident in Vantaa aged 85 years and older (n = 601 eligible) | All participants assessed with informant, with clinical, cognitive, and functional examinations | History of delirium established by retrospective interview of participant and informant with reference to medical case notes |
Notes: 3MS: Modified Mini–Mental State Examination; CAMDEX: Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination; CSHA: Canadian Study of Health and Aging; DIS: Diagnostic Interview Schedule; DSM-III: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition; DSM-III-R: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition Revised; DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition; GERDA: Gerontological Research Database study; ICD-9: International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision; MMSE: Mini–Mental State Examination; NIMH: National Institute of Mental Health; OBS: organic brain syndrome scale.