Risk factors for incident delirium in acute medical in-patients: a systematic review

Delirium is a serious problem that can occur in many older people admitted to hospital. Delirium has the potential to dramatically complicate the hospitalisation of a patient, and often results in functional decline, an increased likelihood of complications associated with longer hospital stays, increasing the risk of admission to a care facility post discharge, a greater incidence of falls and is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Understanding the factors that contribute to delirium can provide insights into the mechanisms that underlie the syndrome.