The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · May 2004
Low incidence of delirium in very old patients after surgery for hip fractures.
The authors sought to determine the incidence of delirium, its predisposing and precipitating factors, and its implications for rehabilitation outcomes and mortality in elderly patients. ⋯ Results documented that the incidence of delirium after hip fracture in elderly patients is much lower than was reported in several previous studies. Premorbid cognitive impairment was the most significant predisposing factor for the development of delirium. Thorough evaluation of earlier cognitive status could improve the probability of the diagnosis of delirium and pinpoint a limited group of patients for a delirium-prevention approach.