Abstract
Background: Whilst there is a growing body of research exploring the effect of delirium in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, the relationship between patient delirium and long-term cognitive impairment has not been investigated in settings where low rates of delirium have been reported. Objectives: To assess the association between the incidence of delirium, duration of mechanical ventilation and long term cognitive impairment in general ICU patients. Methods: Prospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary level ICU in Queensland, Australia. Adult medical and surgical ICU patients receiving ≥12 h mechanical ventilation were assessed for delirium on at least one day. Cognitive impairment was assessed at three and/or six-months using the: Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS); Trail Making Test (TMT) Part A and B; and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: Of 148 enrollees, 91 (61%) completed assessment at three and/or six months. Incidence of delirium was 19%, with 41% cognitively impaired at three months and 24% remaining impaired at six months. Delirium was associated with impaired cognition at six-months: mean TMT Part A scores (information processing speed) were 7.86 s longer than those with no delirium (p = 0.03), and mean TMT Part B scores (executive functioning) 24.0 s longer (p = 0.04). Conclusions: ICU delirium was positively associated with impaired information processing speed and executive functioning at six-months post-discharge for this cohort. Testing for cognitive impairment with RBANS and TMT should be considered due to its greater sensitivity in comparison to the MMSE.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 204-211 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Australian Critical Care |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cognition
- Critical illness
- Delirium
- Intensive care units
- Long-term effects
- Patient outcome assessment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Emergency
- Critical Care