[Prevalence of delirium in hospitalized internal medicine and surgical adult patients in Shohadaye Ashayer hospital of Khoramabad]

ABSTRACT

Delirium is common in elderly persons and in hospitalized patients especially after surgical procedures. But many of them are undetected and don't receive treatment so they involve with increased mortality and morbidity, adverse outcomes, length of hospital stay and mental disability sequels. Unfortunetly, despite the importance of this syndrome, physicians and staff are able to diagnose only one thirtd of the patients. In this cross sectional study, 240 inpatiants [120 from surgery ward and 120 from miernal medicine ward] from Shohadaye Ashayer hospital of Khorramabad were selected randomly. The diagnostic criteria for delirium were Mini-Mental state examination [MMSE] questionnaire, and patients daily examination for 4 days by MMSE. Delirium was observed in 37 [30.8%] of the patients of internal medicine ward and 25 [20.8%] of the patients of surgery ward. 27 [22.5%] of the patients of internal medicine ward and 37 [30.8%] of the patients of surgery ward were suspicious for delirium. In age group of 58-77 years in surgery ward and patients over 77 years in internal medicine ward had the most frequency of delirium. There was significant relationship [p=0.01] between two sex in surgery ward. But there was not significant difference [p=0.92] between two sex in internal medicine ward for delirium. Reading the results of this study and frequency of delirum in surgery and internal medicine wards, presence of a psychiatrist in mentioned wards is necessary of early diagnosis and control of delirium