Delirium may remain undiagnosed in elderly nursing home residents

Written by Jonathan Wilkinson

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...

To view this content, please register now for access

It's completely free