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Delirium Episodes in Elderly Patients Linked to Substantial Dementia Risk Within 5 Years
Episodes of delirium are closely linked to future development of dementia, according to a new study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry.
“Delirium and dementia are two of the most common causes of cognitive impairment in the elderly population, but their interrelationship is poorly understood,” observed Samuel P. Leighton, MD, and co-authors. “[It] is preventable in 30%-40% of cases and is, therefore, an important modifiable risk factor for dementia.”
The retrospective cohort study included all patients over age 65 diagnosed with an episode of delirium and were determined to be dementia-free at the episode’s onset within National Health Service Greater Glasgow & Clyde from 1996 to 2020, data available through the Safe Haven database.
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Of 12,949 patients with an incident episode of delirium who were followed up with for an average of 741 days, the estimated cumulative incidence of dementia was 31% by 5 years. The estimated cumulative incidence of the competing risk of death without dementia was 49.2% by 5 years. Thus, delirium was associated not only with a higher risk of dementia, but also substantial mortality.
“This underlines the seriousness of delirium and the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of underlying cause. Our research supports the concept of delirium as both an indicator of physiological frailty as well as a possible precipitating and accelerating factor in cognitive and physical decline,” Leighton et al concluded.
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