Factors Associated with Delirium among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Background: Delirium is a clinical syndrome characterized by an acute change in attention, awareness and cognition. Identifying the possible risk factors of delirium may be helpful for its prevention, and early management. Aim: This study aimed to explore the risk factors associated with delirium among patients in the intensive care unit. Study design: A descriptive exploratory research design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: This study was implemented in the intensive care unit at El-Demerdash hospital affiliated with Ain Shams University hospitals. Subjects: Purposeful sample of 325 adult patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit were enrolled in this study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data collection Tools: (1) patients' assessment tool. (2) Delirium risk factors assessment questionnaire. (3) Richmond agitation-sedation scale. (4) Intensive care delirium screening checklist. Results: The result showed that incidence of delirium was 23.4% among the studied patients. In addition, the results illustrated that the risk factors associated with delirium development among patients in the intensive care unit includes advanced age, sepsis, cognitive impairment, electrolyte imbalance, chronic diseases, sensory deprivation and sedation as p value <0.001. Conclusion: The present study concluded that incidence of delirium among patients under study was 23.4%, and the most associated risk factors for developing delirium in the intensive care unit were advanced age, presence of co morbidities, electrolyte imbalance, sepsis, using sedatives, having cognitive impairment and sensory deprivation. Recommendations: It was recommended to continuously assess patients in the intensive care units for delirium risk factors in order to develop delirium preventive measures, which could influence patients' outcomes.