Table S1. Pre-screening tool of delirium.

The pre-screening tool of delirium is an instrument to assess the risk of developing delirium. At admission all patients 70 years and older were asked three questions routinely by bedside nurses. These questions included: Are you suffering from memory loss? Did you need help with personal care over the past 24 h? Were you confused during previous hospitalisations or during a previous period of illness? Each positive answer was scored with 1 point, resulting in a delirium score from 0 to 3 (higher score indicates higher risk of developing delirium). In case of a delirium score ≥ 1 the DOSS was completed three times a day for three consecutive days.

DOSS: delirium observation screening scale.