ABSTRACT

Delirium is frequently seen in intensive care patients and causes prolongation of mechanical ventilation and intensive care stay. In intensive care patients, the pre-delirium score is a test used to detect delirium. We aimed to determine the prognostic value of the pre-delirium score in patients who stayed more than 24 hours in our intensive care unit.

Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016, pre-delirium scores were calculated for all patients stayed more than 24 hours in surgery, reanimation and internal medicine intensive care units. Pre-delirium score ≥50 was accepted as group 1 and <50 was accepted as group 2. The groups were compared with each other in terms of gender, age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scores, duration of hospitalization and mortality rates.

While a high pre-delirium score was determined in 196 patients (39.2%), a low pre-delirium score was determined in 304 cases (60.8%) (group 2). In group 1, the mean age was 68.47±15.83 years and the mean APACHE II score was 22.47±7.75; in group 2 the mean age was 59.18±18.48 years and the mean APACHE II score was 15.71±7.87, which was found significantly higher than group 1 (p<0.05). In group 1, the duration of hospitalization was 19.93±23.46 days and the mortality rate was 65.3%; in group 2, the duration of hospitalization was 13.02±20.01 days and the mortality rate was 40.5%. Significant difference determined in terms of duration of hospitalization and mortality (p<0.05).

Early recognition and treatment of delirium will lead to significant improvements in the prognosis of intensive care unit patients. We think that the predelirium score can also be used as an important prognostic test in intensive care unit patients.

Keywords: Delirium, intensive care, pre-delirium score