Delirium risk factors

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Pratik Bahekar, MBBS [2]; Vishal Khurana, M.B.B.S., M.D. [3]

Overview

Delirium is caused by variety of causes but likelihood of having delirium depends on various risk factors.

Sensory impairment (hearing or vision)
Immobilization (catheters or restraints)
Offending drugs (for example, sedative hypnotics, narcotics, anticholinergic drugs, corticosteroid, polypharmacy, withdrawal of alcohol or other drugs)
Acute neurological pathology (for example, acute stroke [usually right parietal], intracranial hemorrhage, meningitis, encephalitis)
Intercurrent illness (for example, infections, iatrogenic complications, severe acute illness, anemia, dehydration, poor nutritional status, fracture or trauma, HIV infection)
Metabolic impairment
Surgery
Stressful surroundings (for example, admission to an intensive care unit)
Pain
Emotional stress
Lack of sleep