This site is intended for healthcare professionals

CPD
CPD
Pro
Pro
account_circleSign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Risk factors for delirium

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Risk factors of delirium can be divided into:

  • predisposing factors
    • comorbidities
      • alcoholism
      • chronic pain
      • history of baseline lung, liver, kidney, heart or brain disease
      • terminal illness
    • demographic factors
      • age older than 65 years
      • male sex
    • geriatric syndrome
      • dementia
      • depression
      • elder abuse
      • falls
      • history of delirium
      • malnutrition
      • polypharmacy
      • pressure ulcers
    • premorbid state
      • inactivity
      • poor functional status
      • social isolation
  • precipitating factors
    • acute insults
      • dehydration
      • fracture
      • infection
      • ischemia – cerebral, cardiac
      • medications
      • metabolic derangements
      • poor nutrition
      • severe illness
      • shock
      • surgery
      • uncontrolled pain
    • environmental exposure
      • ICU setting
      • sleep deprivation
  • delirium-inducing medications
    • high risk
      • anticholinergics - e.g., antihistamines, muscle relaxants, antipsychotics)
      • benzodiazepines
      • dopamine agonists
    • moderate to low risk
      • antibiotics (e.g., quinolones, antimalarials, isoniazid, linezolid [Zyvox], macrolides)
      • anticonvulsants
      • antihypertensives (e.g., beta blockers, clonidine
      • sedatives/hypnotics
      • tricyclic antidepressants
      • low-potency antihistamines (e.g., histamine H2 blockers, urinary and gastrointestinal antispasmodics) (1)

Reference:

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.