Inflammatory and blood gas markers of COVID-19 delirium compared to non-COVID-19 delirium: a cross-sectional study. (3rd October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saini, Aman; Oh, Tae Hyun; Ghanem, Dory Anthony; Castro, Megan; Butler, Matthew; Sin Fai Lam, Chun Chiang; Posporelis, Sotiris; Lewis, Glyn; David, Anthony S.; Rogers, Jonathan P.
• Is Part Of: Aging & mental health. Volume 26:Number 10(2022)
• Page Start: 2054
• Page End: 2061
• Publication Date: 2022-10-03
• Subjects: Delirium -- COVID-19 -- inflammation -- CRP -- respiratory markers; Older people -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Aged -- psychology -- periodicals; Mental Health -- periodicals; Mental Health Services -- periodicals; Aging -- psychology -- periodicals; Aged, 80 and over -- psychology -- periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1989375
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-7863

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: We aimed to find the association of inflammation and respiratory failure with delirium in COVID-19 patients. We compare the inflammatory and arterial blood gas markers between patients with COVID-19 delirium and delirium in other medical disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study used the CHART-DEL, a validated research tool, to screen patients for delirium retrospectively from clinical notes. Inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and white cell count (WBC), and the partial pressures of oxygen (PO2 ) and carbon dioxide (PCO2 ) were compared between patients with COVID-19 delirium and delirium in other medical disorders. Results: In bivariate analysis, CRP (mg/L) was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group, (81.7 ± 80.0 vs. 58.8 ± 87.7, p = 0.04), and WBC (10 9 /L) was significantly lower (7.44 ± 3.42 vs. 9.71 ± 5.45, p = 0.04). The geometric mean of CRP in the COVID-19 group was 140% higher in multiple linear regression (95% CI = 7–439%, p = 0.03) with age and sex as covariates. There were no significant differences in pO2 or pCO2 across groups. Conclusion: The association between higher CRP and COVID-19 in patients with delirium may suggest an inflammatory basis for delirium in COVID-19. Our findings may assist clinicians in establishing whether delirium is due to COVID-19, which may improve management and outcomes of infected patients.