Clinical characteristics of the elderly patients with delirium

Objective To analyze the characteristics of elderly patients with delirium in the general hospital consultation.Methods One hundred and two elderly patients with delirium were compared with elderly patients in the same period in consultation,and the clinical characteristics of delirium was analyzed.Results The average age of delirium group was higher than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(t =4.84,P ＜ 0.05).The rate of delirium patients suffering from surgery or trauma,multiple organ failure were higher than those of control group(23.5％ vs 9.3％,51.0％ vs 17.3％),the difference was statistically significant (P ＜0.05).The delirium group patients consultation leading cause was behavioral abnormalities and cognitrve impairment,compared with the control group(38.2％ vs 9.4％,31.4％ vs 3.2％),the difference was statistically significant(P ＜0.05).The clinical manifestations of patients with delirium:disturbance of consciousness,disorientation,hallucinations,attention disorders,memory disorders etc.The misdiagnosed were 23 cases(22.6％).Seventy-three cases(71.6％) of delirium were given antipsychotic treatment.Conclusions We should enhance the understanding of the clinical features of senile delirium,and strive for the early detection and early treatment. Key words: Delirium;  Elderly