RISK FACTORS IN DELIRIOUS GERIATRIC GENERAL MEDICAL INPATIENTS

The present study was carried out on the hospitalized geriatric general medical patients with the aim to identify the possible risk factors associated with delirium in the elderly. The assessment of the patients was carried out using Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Delirium Symptom Interview (DSI), Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) and ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research for delirium Details of medical records were collected. An overall rate of delirium of 27% was found in the 100 patients who constituted the sample. Pre-existing cognitive deficits, neurological illnesses, urinary tract infections, visual impairment, hearing impairment, current proteinuria, leukocytosis, raised blood ammonia, hyponatremia and potassium level disturbances were the risk factors identified.