Delirium Care Pathways
Risk Factors
Risk factors according to the health care setting
The following table lists the risk factors for delirium according to the health setting.
 Health Care Setting | Hospital - intensive care units, aged care wards, and neurology wards (based on published high level evidence*) | Hospital - surgical wards in particular orthopaedic, cardiac and neurosurgery wards (based on published high level evidence*) | Residential care and Community care (no published high level evidence) |
|---|---|---|---|
Risk factors | Pre-existing cognitive impairment including dementia Severe medical illness Age > 70 years Visual impairment Depression Abnormal sodium Use of indwelling catheter Use of physical restraints Adding three or more medications during hospitalisation | Pre-existing cognitive impairment including dementia Severe medical illness Age > 70 years Visual impairment Depression Abnormal sodium Use of indwelling catheter Use of physical restraints Adding three or more medications during hospitalisation Exposure to pethidine Exposure to benzodiazepine History of delerium Alcohol related health concerns Exposure to narcotic analgesics preoperatively | Pre-existing cognitive impairment including dementia Illness / infection Age > 70 years Visual impairment Depression Abnormal serum sodium Use of indwelling catheter Use of physical restraints Multiple medication use Alcohol related health concerns Exposure to benzodiazepine Return from hospitalisation Hearing impairment |
* This list of risk factors has been collated from both risk factor and risk prediction model studies.
Adapted from: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation Unit 2006, Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Delirium in Older People, Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria