1. Delirium in the Elderly
Kirsten M. Wilkins, MD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Yale School of Medicine
VA CT Healthcare System
2. Case 1:
A 79 year old man with dementia, DMII, CAD, COPD, and acute
renal failure but no other psychiatric history was admitted for
pneumonia. After a 3 week hospital course complicated by
delirium, hyponatremia, and UTI, he has been less agitated, more
cooperative and more oriented for 2 days in association with
decreased wbc and lessened oxygen requirements. You are
consulted for acute suicidal ideation.
What initial plan would be best?
a. Assign a sitter (1:1), evaluate patient for antidepressant, provide
supportive psychotherapy to address prolonged hospitalization
b. Assign a sitter (1:1), check urinalysis, do a chest x-ray, begin
SSRI
c. Transfer to psychiatry for further care
d. Evaluate for a sitter (1:1), check urinalysis, do a chest x-ray,
discuss with primary team
3. Case 1 - Discussion
Answer = D: Evaluate for a sitter (1:1), check
urinalysis, do a chest x-ray, discuss with primary team
Delirium must be ruled out first in this case…it offers
more morbidity than depression in this setting and this
patient is at higher risk for having delirium. Suicidal
ideation is common in delirium. Adding an
antidepressant may worsen the picture—better to wait
2-3 days to rule out delirium, as that delay will not
greatly impact treatment of depression; but,
misdiagnosing as depression may result in failing to
search for the cause of the delirium.
4. Delirium
DSM-IV-TR Criteria
Disturbance of consciousness with reduced
ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention.
A change in cognition (memory deficit,
disorientation, language disturbance) or the
development of a perceptual disturbance
(i.e. auditory or visual hallucinations) that is
not better accounted for by a preexisting
dementia.
5. Delirium
DSM-IV-TR Criteria, cont.
The disturbance develops over a short time
(hours to days) and fluctuates during the
day.
There is evidence that the disturbance is
caused by the direct physiological
consequences of a general medical
condition or substance.
6. Delirium
DELIRIUM IS ALSO KNOWN AS….
acute confusional state
acute mental status change
altered mental status
brain failure
hepatic encephalopathy
organic brain syndrome
toxic or metabolic encephalopathy
7. Delirium: Epidemiology
Prevalence depends on population
Greater in med/surg population
Community 0.4 - 2%
General hospital admissions ~20%
On admission 10 – 15% elders
During hospitalization up to 40%
At end of life up to 83%
Trzepacz and Meagher 2005
Saxena and Lawley 2009
Fong et al 2009
8. Delirium: Epidemiology
Higher rates seen with…
Post-op (ortho, cardiothoracic, vascular)
ICU admission
Poor functional recovery
Increased hospital lengths of stay
Increased likelihood of NH placement
Up to 60% NH pts have delirium
Trzepacz and Meagher 2005
Mittal et al 2011
9. Delirium - Impact
Increased morbidity
Poorer recovery from medical illness
Increased need for walking devices
6x increased risk of decubitus ulcers or
aspiration pneumonia
Increased risk of future cognitive decline
10-33% mortality rate in hospital
Increased risk of mortality even months
after d/c Fong et al 2009
Siddiqi et al 2006
10.
11. Case 2:
Consult requested for 85 yo female with h/o dementia recently
admitted to SNF, following hospitalization for hip fracture/repair ,
complicated by post-op infection. Pt noted by staff to be
disoriented, “sundowning,” and resistant to care and PT. Per staff,
family concerned that her dementia is “much worse” than before
her surgery despite apparently successful surgery and resolution
of her infection. Which of the following may explain her
symptoms?
A) Opioid pain medications
B) Ongoing symptoms of delirium
C) New cognitive “baseline”
D) Old age
E) A, B, and C
12. Delirium Risk Factors
Age
Preexisting dementia
Recent surgery
Bone fractures
Infections
Hypoalbuminemia
Preexisting CNS structural abnormalities
13. Delirium Risk Factors
Abnormal sodium
Severe illness
AIDS, Cancer
Polypharmacy
Dehydration
Visual/hearing impairment
17. Disrupted Sleep-wake Cycle
Insomnia
Napping
Being awake at night, limited light and external
cues leads to disorientation and paranoia
which may cause agitation
Caution with sedative medications due to
concerns of worsening delirium
18. Affective Lability
Mood may fluctuate widely in a very
short period of time (minutes/hours)
Anxiety/panic/fear/anger
Apathy/sadness - commonly mistaken
for depression
Euphoria (esp. if steroid-induced)
20. Delirium versus Dementia
DELIRIUM
impaired memory +++
impaired thinking +++
clouding of consciousness +++
major attention deficit +++
fluctuation of course/day +++
disorientation +++
vivid perceptual disturbance ++
incoherent speech ++
disrupt sleep/wake cycle ++
nocturnal exacerbation ++
lack of insight ++
acute or sub acute onset ++
impaired judgment +++
DEMENTIA
+++
+++
-
+
+
++
+
+
+
+
+
-
+++
21. Delirium
Generally divided into 4 major types:
Delirium secondary to general medical
condition
Delirium secondary to substance
intoxication
Delirium secondary to substance withdrawal
Delirium secondary to multiple etiologies
22. Delirium
“Rarely is delirium caused by a single
factor; rather, it is a multifactorial
syndrome, resulting from the interaction
of the vulnerability on the part of the
patient (ie, predisposing conditions—
cognitive impairment, severe illness,
visual impairment) and hospital-related
insults (ie, medications and
procedures).” –Inouye et al 2007
24. Case 2:
Consult requested for 85 yo female with h/o dementia recently
admitted to the SNF, following hospitalization for hip
fracture/repair , complicated by post-op infection. Pt noted by
staff to be disoriented, “sundowning,” and resistant to care and
PT. Per staff, family concerned that her dementia is “much worse”
than before her surgery despite apparently successful surgery
and resolution of her infection.
What initial plan would be best?
A) Send her to the ER
B) Review chart including medication list, talk to staff/family, physical and
mental status exams
C) Begin routine haloperidol 0.5 mg TID for agitation
D) Begin lorazepam 1 mg with dinner for sundowning behaviors
26. Etiologies -“ I WATCH DEATH “
I = Infection
W = Withdrawal
A = Acute Metabolic
T = Trauma
C = CNS Pathology
H = Hypoxia
D = Deficiencies
(especially vitamin)
E = Endocrinopathies
A = Acute Vascular
T = Toxins
H = Heavy metals
27.
28. Etiologies of Delirium
General Medical Conditions
HIV/AIDS
Orthopedic procedures (50%)
Infectious (UTI, Pneumonia, Sepsis)
Metabolic derangement
Cancer (PLE, brain mets—L, B, M)
Impaction, constipation, dehydration, many,
many others…
29. Etiologies of Delirium
Iatrogenic and polypharmacy
Anticholinergic medications
Opioids
Benzodiazepines
Steroids
Antihistamines
Antibiotics
Many, many others…
30. Delirium: Neurobiology
Best established neurotransmitter
dysfunction: reduced cholinergic activity
Increased dopamine may also play a role
Low and excessive serotonin
Low and excessive GABA
Trzepacz and Meagher 2005
31. Delirium: Neurobiology
Direct injury to the neurons
Metabolic
Ischemic
Alters synthesis/release of neurotransmitters
Stress response
Trauma, surgery, infection release of
proinflammatory cytokines, elevated cortisol
Direct neurotoxic effects
Alters neurotransmitter levels
Mittal et al 2011
32. Diagnosis of Delirium
Delirium is a clinical diagnosis
History and physical examination
(attention to VS)
Mental Status Exam
Rating Scales-consider on admission
Confusion Assessment Method
Delirium Rating Scale
MMSE/Clock
33. Diagnosis of Delirium
Lab tests cannot diagnose delirium but may
support dx
CBC, CMP, UA, urine tox, TSH, B12, ammonia
CXR, EKG, LP if indicated
Neuroimaging
EEG
Generalized slowing in delirium, nonspecific
Triphasic waves in hepatic encephalopathy
Low voltage fast activity in EtOH or BZD w/d
34. Delirium: Management
Identification and reversal of cause is
the definitive treatment
The search must be thorough, as in the
diagnosis and treatment of any other
organ system failure.
Delirium is brain failure!
35. Delirium: Management
Monitor VS and I/O
Ensure good oxygenation
D/C nonessential medications
Minimize opioids, benzos, etc
Repeat PE, further lab, radiologic studies
if cause not yet identified
36. Delirium: Management
Behavioral/Environmental Strategies
Reorientation, calendars, clocks
Room near nursing station
Lights on/off during day/night
Windows
Family/familiarity
Hearing aids, glasses
Avoid restraints
37. Delirium: Management
Pharmacological Therapy
Nothing FDA-approved
Antipsychotics are treatment of choice for
agitation compromising care or safety
Haloperidol best studied, widely used
Virtually no anticholinergic effects
Virtually no hypotensive effects
Risk of EPS (akathisia), rare with IV route
38. Delirium: Management
Pharmacological Therapy
Haloperidol
EPS rare when IV route used, however, IV route
carries risk of QTc prolongationrisk of TdP
Risk greatest with higher doses over shorter
periods of time, in pts with QTc >450
Monitor EKG and electrolytes (K, Mg)
Monitor for akathisia
39. Delirium: Management
Antipsychotic Dosing in Elderly
Use clinical judgment depending on severity of symptoms for starting
dose:
Haloperidol
0.5mg mild
1mg moderate
2mg severe
Assess response to initial dose and repeat as needed, monitoring for
effectiveness and adverse effects
Day one: order prn
Day two and beyond: assess total drug needed previous day and
schedule that amount over the next day. Reassess daily continuing
process until delirium resolves.
Once symptoms have remitted, continue effective dose for 48 hours,
then slowly taper and discontinue over 1-5 days, depending on
severity and duration of delirium up to that point. Avoid abrupt
discontinuation after first day or two of mental clarity to avoid risk of
rebound symptoms
40. Delirium: Management
Atypical Antipsychotics
Risperidone 0.25-0.5 po bid prn
ODT available
Olanzapine 2.5 mg qhs
IM/ODT available
Caution: sedating, anticholinergic
Quetiapine 25 mg po bid prn
Limited data on aripiprazole, ziprasidone
(concern for QTc prolongation)
41. Delirium: Management
Cochrane Review 2007
Meta-analysis compared efficacy and
adverse effects (3 trials included)
No difference in efficacy or adverse effects
between low dose haloperidol and
risperidone and olanzapine
High dose haloperidol (>4.5 mg/d) greater
incidence of SE, mainly EPS
Lonergan 2007
42. Delirium: Management
Antipsychotics
Black box warning
Increased risk of death/CVAE’s in pts with
dementia
Use judiciously, continue to reassess R/B
ratio, taper when appropriate
43. Case 3:
70 yo male with no reported psychiatric history admitted for
elective surgery. Doing well post-op until development of acute
confusion, agitation, paranoia, trying to pull out lines and
demanding to leave AMA. Exam reveals a diaphoretic, tremulous
man with tachycardia and elevated BP. Which are part of the
initial treatment plan?
A) Begin olanzapine 5 mg q4h routine for agitation
B) Transfer directly to psychiatry
C) Ensure safety of patient/staff
D) Obtain collateral information and history from family, review chart/meds,
complete physical and mental status examinations
E) Initiate alcohol detox protocol with lorazepam
F) Check CMP, CBC, UA, urine tox, ammonia
44. Delirium: Management
Pharmacological Therapy
Benzodiazepines
Primarily indicated in EtOH or benzodiazepine
withdrawal delirium
Adjunct to neuroleptics in treatment of severe
agitation
Lorazepam preferred given its reliable
absorption from po/IM/IV routes
Generally avoided as may WORSEN delirium--
especially hepatic encephalopathy
45. Prognosis
Variable
Full recovery (unlikely at time of hospital d/c
in the elderly, may take several weeks)
Persistent cognitive deficits (new “baseline”)
Stupor, coma, death (the presence of
delirium indicates a more serious medical
illness, affecting the central nervous
system)
46.
47. Prevention
30-40% cases preventable
Risk factor intervention (Inouye 1999)
Standardized protocols for 6 risk factors:
Reduced incidence of delirium
Decreased total # of days and # of episodes
No difference in:
Severity of delirium
Recurrence of delirium
Fong 2009
Inouye et al1999
48. Conclusion
Delirium is common in the geriatric population
Dementia is a risk factor for delirium – patients
frequently have both
Recognizing delirium, and distinguishing the
syndrome from primary psychiatric conditions is
critical
Delirium can present in a variety of ways and can
be a result of a number of etiologies
Awareness of the hypoactive subtype of delirium is
important – avoid confusing it with depression
Antipsychotic medications are useful in the
management of symptoms of delirium;
benzodiazepines are useful in cases of alcohol or
benzodiazepine withdrawal, only.
49. References
Trzepacz PT, Meagher DJ. Delirium. In: Levenson JL, ed. Textbook of Psychosomatic Medicine. Arlington, VA:
American Psychiatric Publishing, 2005:91-130.
Saxena S, Lawley D. Delirium in the Elderly: a clinical review. Postgrad Med J. 2009;85(1006):405-413.
Fong TG, Tulebaev SR, Inouye SK. Delirium in elderly adults: diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Nat Rev
Neurol. 2009;5(4):210-220.
Mittal V, Muralee S, Williamson D, et al. Delirium in the elderly: a comprehensive review. Am J Alzheimer’s Dis
Other Dement. 2011 Mar;26(2):97-109.
Siddiqui N, House AO, Holmes JD. Occurrence and outcome of delirium in medical in-patients: a systematic
literature review. Age Ageing. 2006;35(4):350-364.
Lonergan E, Britton AM, Luxenberg J. Antipsychotics for delirium. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
2007, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD005594. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005594.pub2
Inouye SK, Bogardus ST Jt, Charpentier PA, et al. A multicomponent intervention to prevent delirium in
hospitalized older patients. N Engl J Med. 1999;340(9):669-676.