Delirium may remain undiagnosed in elderly nursing home residents
A review article published by a researcher from Rowan University (NJ, USA) claims that delirium affects nearly 18% of long-term residents of nursing homes. Furthermore, the condition often goes undiagnosed and has a surprisingly high 1-year mortality rate of 40%. The article has been published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association and offers guidance to physicians and long-term care staff. Delirium is a condition characterized by disorganized thinking, deficits in attention and a fluctuating course. The similarity between the symptoms of delirium and dementia is problematic and often results in the former going undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in elderly...