Table 2. Acute conditions found and deemed precipitating factors for delirium in included patients.
| Condition | At first assessment No. (%) n = 208 |
At final assessment No. (%) n = 208 |
P value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infection | 76 (36.5) | 103 (49.5) | < 0.001 |
| Lung | 34 (16.3) | 46 (22.1) | |
| Pneumonia | 28 (13.5) | 43 (20.7) | |
| Acute bronchitis (1 COPD) | 6 (2.9) | 3 (1.4) | |
| Urinary | 23 (11.1) | 32 (15.4) | |
| Fever or SIRS, unclear etiology | 13 (6.2) | 11 (5.3) | |
| Skin | 4 (1.9) | 6 (2.9) | |
| Intra-abdominal | 1 (0.5) | 4 (1.9) | |
| Others (grippe, osteomyelitis, sepsis) | 1 (0.5) | 4 (1.9) | |
| Water and electrolyte disorders | 76 (36.5) | 95 (45.7) | < 0.001 |
| Volume depletion, normal natremia | 47 (22.6) | 55 (26.4) | |
| Hyponatremia | 20 (9.6) | 26 (12.5) | |
| Hypernatremia | 8 (3.8) | 10 (4.8) | |
| Hypercalcemia | 1 (0.5) | 3 (1.4) | |
| Drugs | 45 (21.6) | 64 (30.8) | < 0.001 |
| Psychotropic drugs | 39 (18.7) | 49 (23.6) | |
| Benzodiazepines | 18 (8.7) | 24 (11.5) | |
| Antidepressants | 4 (1.9) | 8 (3.8) | |
| Antipsychotics | 7 (3.4) | 7 (3.4) | |
| Anti-Parkinson | 4 (1.9) | 6 (2.9) | |
| Sedating antihistamines | 4 (1.9) | 6 (2.9) | |
| Anti-Alzheimer (memantine, anticholinesterases) | 3 (1.4) | 3 (1.4) | |
| Others (lithium, levetiracetam) | 2 (1.0) | 2 (1.0) | |
| Opioids | 6 (2.9) | 9 (4.3) | |
| Fluoroquinolones | 0 | 3 (1.4) | |
| Others (oral anti-diabetic, NSAID, oral corticoid, furosemide) | 1 (0.5) | 5 (2.4) | |
| Acute neurological condition | 28 (13.5) | 38 (18.3) | 0.01 |
| Epilepsy | 10 (4.8) | 14 (6.7) | |
| Subdural hematoma | 11 (5.3) | 11 (5.3) | |
| Stroke | 6 (2.9) | 11 (5.3) | |
| Ischemic | 5 (2.4) | 9 (4.3) | |
| Intra-cerebral hemorrhage | 1 (0.5) | 2 (1.0) | |
| Head trauma, no intra-cranial hemorrhage | 6 (2.9) | 6 (2.9) | |
| Others acute diseases | 19 (9.1) | 29 (13.9) | 0.002 |
| Heart failure | 8 (3.8) | 13 (6.2) | |
| Hypoglycemia | 4 (1.9) | 4 (1.9) | |
| Alcohol abuse | 2 (1.0) | 3 (1.4) | |
| Pulmonary embolism | 2 (1.0) | 2 (1.0) | |
| Fall-related fracture | 2 (1.0) | 2 (1.0) | |
| Cancer, disseminated | 1 (0.5) | 2 (1.0) | |
| Other (hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, temporal arteritis) | 0 | 3 (1.4) | |
| Others conditions found, uncertain role ** | |||
| Urinary retention | 16 (7.7) | 26 (12.5) | |
| Pain | 18 (8.7) | 23 (11.1) | |
| Fecal impaction † | 13 (6.2) | 14 (6.7) | |
| Arrhythmia | 1 (0.5) | 1 (0.5) | |
| Physical aggression | 0 | 1 (0.5) | |
| Recent admission to nursing home | 0 | 1 (0.5) |
COPD = Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NSAID = Non-steroidal inflammatory drug; SIRS = Systemic inflammatory response syndrome;
* McNemar test for proportions in two paired samples
** They were considered by the attending physician as a probable precipitating factor but are not clearly recognized as such by all experts (see text).
† Only one patient with this diagnosis had clinical signs of intestinal occlusion