Phenomology of delirium in patients with COVID 19 infection

BACKGROUND: In patients with COVID-19, delirium may be presented as direct central nervous system invasion, activation of CNS inflammatory mediators, a secondary effect of other organ system failure, prolonged mechanical ventilation time, or environmental factors, including social isolation. AIM: To study the phenomenology of delirium in patients of COVID infection admitted in Intensive care unit of level 3 COVID hospital. METHODS: Forty five patients were included in this study all of whom were diagnosed COVID 19 infection and were admitted in ICU. They had been referred to the psychiatry department for assessment of delirium, and those who screened positive for the same were evaluated by applying delirium assessment instruments, such as the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU), delirium rating scale-R-98 (DRS-R-98) and Richmond agitation sedation scale(RASS). RESULTS: The disturbance in sleep wake cycle(93.3%) was the most frequent and most severely affected symptoms of delirium and delusion(11.1%) was least common symptom of delirium. CONCLUSION: Delirium appears to be a sequele of events in patients with COVID 19.Although these constellation of symptoms do raise a question about whether the delirium seen in COVID-19 indicates simply a severe systemic illness or whether COVID 19 uniquely target subcortical structures.