What is COVID-19 delirium?
What is COVID-19 delirium?
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COVID-19 delirium occurs in patients who have a sudden onset of mental disturbances that results in confusion and a lack of accurate perceptions regarding their environment and current state. Delirium itself is a change in mental abilities that results in the inability to think clearly, reduced awareness, and often emotional shifts. Delirium often occurs rapidly in patients and is frequently attributed to severe or chronic illness, changes in metabolism (the reactions and processes in your body that convert food into energy), infections, and other factors. Researchers and doctors have been drawing attention to the fact that regardless of age, potentially 1/3 of COVID-19 patients can develop symptoms of delirium. More recent studies have seen delirium in 20-30% of hospitalized patients with higher rates occurring in critically ill patients (upwards of 60-70%). For example, Vanderbilt University Medical Center launched a study in July 2020 that will study delirium, among other impacts on the brain, in patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. The researchers share that in previous studies of intensive care patients similar to COVID-19 patients, 33-50% experience dementia. Delirium can lead to longer hospital stays, which increases the risk for complications. _This entry was updated with new information on August 20, 2020._
COVID-19 delirium occurs in patients who have a sudden onset of mental disturbances that results in confusion and a lack of accurate perceptions regarding their environment and current state. Delirium itself is a change in mental abilities that results in the inability to think clearly, reduced awareness, and often emotional shifts. Delirium often occurs rapidly in patients and is frequently attributed to severe or chronic illness, changes in metabolism (the reactions and processes in your body that convert food into energy), infections, and other factors. Researchers and doctors have been drawing attention to the fact that regardless of age, potentially 1/3 of COVID-19 patients can develop symptoms of delirium. More recent studies have seen delirium in 20-30% of hospitalized patients with higher rates occurring in critically ill patients (upwards of 60-70%). For example, Vanderbilt University Medical Center launched a study in July 2020 that will study delirium, among other impacts on the brain, in patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. The researchers share that in previous studies of intensive care patients similar to COVID-19 patients, 33-50% experience dementia. Delirium can lead to longer hospital stays, which increases the risk for complications. _This entry was updated with new information on August 20, 2020._
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What our experts say
COVID-19 delirium occurs in patients who have a sudden onset of mental disturbances that results in confusion and a lack of accurate perceptions regarding their environment and current state. Delirium itself is a change in mental abilities that results in the inability to think clearly, reduced awareness, and often emotional shifts. Delirium often occurs rapidly in patients and is frequently attributed to severe or chronic illness, changes in metabolism (the reactions and processes in your body that convert food into energy), infections, and other factors. Researchers and doctors have been drawing attention to the fact that regardless of age, potentially 1/3 of COVID-19 patients can develop symptoms of delirium. More recent studies have seen delirium in 20-30% of hospitalized patients with higher rates occurring in critically ill patients (upwards of 60-70%). For example, Vanderbilt University Medical Center launched a study in July 2020 that will study delirium, among other impacts on the brain, in patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. The researchers share that in previous studies of intensive care patients similar to COVID-19 patients, 33-50% experience dementia. Delirium can lead to longer hospital stays, which increases the risk for complications.
This entry was updated with new information on August 20, 2020.
COVID-19 delirium occurs in patients who have a sudden onset of mental disturbances that results in confusion and a lack of accurate perceptions regarding their environment and current state. Delirium itself is a change in mental abilities that results in the inability to think clearly, reduced awareness, and often emotional shifts. Delirium often occurs rapidly in patients and is frequently attributed to severe or chronic illness, changes in metabolism (the reactions and processes in your body that convert food into energy), infections, and other factors. Researchers and doctors have been drawing attention to the fact that regardless of age, potentially 1/3 of COVID-19 patients can develop symptoms of delirium. More recent studies have seen delirium in 20-30% of hospitalized patients with higher rates occurring in critically ill patients (upwards of 60-70%). For example, Vanderbilt University Medical Center launched a study in July 2020 that will study delirium, among other impacts on the brain, in patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. The researchers share that in previous studies of intensive care patients similar to COVID-19 patients, 33-50% experience dementia. Delirium can lead to longer hospital stays, which increases the risk for complications.
This entry was updated with new information on August 20, 2020.
Context and background
Recent studies have shown a concerning trend of delirium in COVID-19 patients, without predisposition for age or gender. Often, this manifests in the central nervous system. Unfortunately, documentation is often missed in 75% of delirium cases, which has been challenging for the identification of COVID-19 related incidents. As more research is pointing to COVID-19 delirium being a trend in hospitalized patients, there is a need to ensure documentation occurs.
Recent studies have shown a concerning trend of delirium in COVID-19 patients, without predisposition for age or gender. Often, this manifests in the central nervous system. Unfortunately, documentation is often missed in 75% of delirium cases, which has been challenging for the identification of COVID-19 related incidents. As more research is pointing to COVID-19 delirium being a trend in hospitalized patients, there is a need to ensure documentation occurs.
Resources
- COVID-19 Delirium research paper, (Critical Care)
- Delirium: a missing piece in the COVID-10 pandemic puzzle (Age Aging)
- Delirium, PTSD, brain fog: The aftermath of surviving COVID-19 (American Psychological Association)
- COVID-19 Delirium research paper, (Critical Care)
- Delirium: a missing piece in the COVID-10 pandemic puzzle (Age Aging)
- Delirium, PTSD, brain fog: The aftermath of surviving COVID-19 (American Psychological Association)
