ObjectiveTo describe the incidence of and risk factors for delirium
in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Argentina
and to conduct the first non-European study exploring the performance of the
PREdiction of DELIRium in ICu patients (PRE-DELIRIC) model.MethodsProspective observational study in a 20-bed intensive care unit of a tertiary
care teaching hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The PRE-DELIRIC model was
applied to 178 consecutive patients within 24 hours of admission to the
intensive care unit; delirium was assessed with the
Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU).ResultsThe mean age was 64.3 ± 17.9 years. The median time of stay in the
intensive care unit was 6 (range, 2 - 56) days. Of the total number of
patients, 49/178 (27.5%) developed delirium, defined as a
positive CAM-ICU assessment, during their stay in the intensive care unit.
Patients in the delirium group were significantly older and
had a significantly higher Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation
II (APACHE II) score. The mortality rate in the intensive care unit was
14.6%; no significant difference was observed between the two groups.
Predictive factors for the development of delirium were
increased age, prolonged intensive care unit stay, and opioid use. The area
under the curve for the PRE-DELIRIC model was 0.83 (95%CI; 0.77 - 0.90).ConclusionsThe observed incidence of delirium highlights the importance
of this problem in the intensive care unit setting. In this first study
conducted outside Europe, PRE-DELIRIC accurately predicted the development
of delirium.