Delirium occurrence and association with outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. (23rd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pagali, Sandeep; Fu, Sunyang; Lindroth, Heidi; Sohn, Sunghwan; Burton, M. Caroline; Lapid, Maria
• Is Part Of: International psychogeriatrics. Volume 33:Number 10(2021)
• Page Start: 1105
• Page End: 1109
• Publication Date: 2021-10-23
• Subjects: delirium -- hospitalized COVID-19 -- outcomes -- COVID-19 severity; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; 618.9768905
• DOI: 10.1017/S104161022100106X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1041-6102

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Delirium is reported to be one of the manifestations of coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. COVID-19 hospitalized patients are at a higher risk of delirium. Pathophysiology behind the association of delirium and COVID-19 is uncertain. We analyzed the association of delirium occurrence with outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, across all age groups, at Mayo Clinic hospitals. A retrospective study of all hospitalized COVID-19 patients at Mayo Clinic between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 was performed. Occurrence of delirium and outcomes of mortality, length of stay, readmission, and 30-day mortality after hospital discharge were measured. Chi-square test, student t -test, survival analysis, and logistic regression analysis were performed to measure and compare outcomes of delirium group adjusted for age, sex, Charlson comorbidity score, and COVID-19 severity with no-delirium group. A total of 4351 COVID-19 patients were included in the study. Delirium occurrence in the overall study population was noted to be 22.4%. The highest occurrence of delirium was also noted in patients with critical COVID-19 illness severity. A statistically significant OR 4.35 (3.27–5.83) for in-hospital mortality and an OR 4.54 (3.25–6.38) for 30-day mortality after discharge in the delirium group were noted. Increased hospital length of stay, 30-day readmission, and need for skilled nursing facility on discharge were noted in the delirium group. Delirium in hospitalized COVID-19 patients is a marker for increased mortality and morbidity. In this group, outcomes appear to be much worse when patients are older and have a critical severity of COVID-19 illness.