Resumen de Delirium and dementia
Delirium is an acute loss of cognition that occurs in 10% to 17% of older emergency department (ED) patients and is associated with death, accelerated functional and cognitive decline, and loss of independence. Because delirium is usually precipitated by a medical illness, a comprehensive diagnostic workup is needed to uncover its underlying cause. When evaluating a delirious patient with little or no vulnerability factors (eg, dementia), ED providers should be highly concerned for an underlying life-threatening illness. Dementia is a gradual loss of cognition that is usually irreversible and is typically not caused by a medical illness. ED providers will miss delirium and dementia unless they are screened for with validated assessments.
