Table 1.

Predisposing and precipitating factors for delirium.

Predisposing Factors

Older age;

Dementia or pre-existing cognitive impairment;

Previous delirium episodes;

Functional impairment;

Sensory impairment (e.g., vision and/or auditory disabilities);

Presence of comorbid medical illnesses;

Pre-existing neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, alcohol use disorder).

Precipitating Factors

Polypharmacotherapy (e.g., concomitant use of sedative-hypnotic drugs, diuretics, anticoagulants, antibiotics);

Use of physical restraints;

Use of bladder catheter;

Infections;

Major surgery;

Trauma or urgent admission to hospital;

Coma;

Metabolic abnormalities (e.g., abnormal serum sodium, glucose or potassium concentrations, hypoxemia, metabolic acidosis).