Predictive Factors and Complications of Delirium

Delirium is a transient and fluctuating course syndrome of acute onset that is characterized by reduced level of consciousness, global cognitive dysfunction, and disorder in the sleep-wake cycle. In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, delirium is a complication that affects 2-57% of the patients, reaching as high as 73% in older subjects.

The identification of patients at high risk for delirium is important to deliver proper care and avoid the consequences of this complication. However, previous studies published on the subject have not delivered definitive results in the cardiac surgery setting. Low educational level has also been studied as a risk factor for delirium after surgery but never in a group of cardiac surgery patients that includes a significant rate of illiteracy.

The objective of this research was to determine the incidence, predisposing and triggering factors of delirium following cardiac surgery and its consequences within 30 days of surgery and during a 12-18-month follow-up in older adult patients.