Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie
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Observational Study
Aspects and assessment of delirium in old age. First data from a German interdisciplinary emergency department.
The prevalence of delirium in hospitalized patients is high, but delirium is frequently not identified by treating physicians in emergency departments (EDs). Although the number of elderly patients admitted to EDs is increasing, no data on prevalence, identification and outcome of delirious elderly patients in German EDs exist. ⋯ Elderly patients with known risk factors should be routinely assessed for delirium in the ED with a standardized assessment tool such as the CAM.