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• Delirium and the aging population
  Melody Marton-Nikolits
  Published on: 21 November 2016

• Published on: 21 November 2016

  Delirium and the aging population

  • Melody Marton-Nikolits, Student

  The article "Readmissions and mortality in delirious versus non- delirious octogenarian patients after aortic valve therapy: a prospective cohort study" (2016) by Eide et all. tackles an interesting and very real issue in our increasingly medicalized world. The article examined whether delirium acts as a risk factor in readmissions after heart surgery one month and 6 months after an operation. The study showed that deliri...

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  The article "Readmissions and mortality in delirious versus non- delirious octogenarian patients after aortic valve therapy: a prospective cohort study" (2016) by Eide et all. tackles an interesting and very real issue in our increasingly medicalized world. The article examined whether delirium acts as a risk factor in readmissions after heart surgery one month and 6 months after an operation. The study showed that delirium is, in fact, a risk factor for readmission at 1 and 6 months post surgery. The world's population is living longer, and having increasing health issues. This can be observed in both highly developed countries as well as lesser one (WHO 2011). This begs the questions that if our population is aging and requiring more care and more health follow ups, what can health care professionals do to reduce the risk factors surrounding elective surgeries, like TAVI and SAVR, that are meant to maintain and improve these clients' quality of life? Are we improving the quality of life in octogenarian patients? There are so many factors that can cause a delirium including medications, noise as well as environment, the list is definitely not exclusive (Huisman et al., 2012). While Eide et al. make a good and valid point on the importance of evaluating for delirium however, the extensive list of delirium causes can make it difficult for health care practitioners to control and account for every one of them.

  While the article makes good links between delirium and heart surgery, the authors acknowledge that the population being examined is vulnerable prior to the surgery. I would suggest that another study should be done taking into consideration the length of time of the surgery, the time spent in the intensive care unit and whether or not there were post-operative complications. Complications that require the use of inotropes, vasopressors and/or sedation and continued intubation should be taken into account while assessing for delirium, especially in an older population with a multitude of health issues. Furthermore, the authors state that 10 participants have participated in interview describing their experience with a delirium. I look forward to reading this and getting insight into a different perspective.

  References

  Huisman, E.R.C.M., Morales, E., van Hoof, J. and Kort, H.S.M. (2012) Healing environment: A review of the impact of physical environmental factors on uses. Building and Environment, 58: 70-80. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.06.016

  Suzman, R. and Beard, J. (2011) Global Health and Aging. World Health Organization.

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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