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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Sarah Richardson, James Murray, Dr Louise Robinson, Emeritus Professor Stuart ParkerORCiD, Professor Avan SayerORCiD, Dr Richard DoddsORCiD, Dr Louise Allan
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Oxford University Press, 2022.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Background: Delirium is common, distressing and associated with poor outcomes. Despite this, delirium remains poorly recognised, resulting in worse outcomes. There is an urgent need for methods to objectively assess for delirium. Physical function has been proposed as a potential surrogate marker, but few studies have monitored physical function in the context of delirium. We examined if trajectories of physical function are affected by the presence and severity of delirium in a representative sample of hospitalised participants over 65 years. Methods: During hospital admissions in 2016, we assessed participants from the DECIDE study daily for delirium and physical function, using the Hierarchical Assessment of Balance and Mobility (HABAM). We used linear mixed models to assess the effect of delirium and delirium severity during admission on HABAM trajectory. Results: Of 178 participants, 58 experienced delirium during admission. Median HABAM scores in those with delirium were significantly higher (indicating worse mobility) than those without delirium. Modelling HABAM trajectories, HABAM scores at first assessment were worse in those with delirium than those without, by 0.76 (95% CI: 0.49-1.04) points. Participants with severe delirium experienced a much greater perturbance in their physical function, with an even lower value at first assessment and slower subsequent improvement. Conclusions: Physical function was worse in those with delirium compared to without. This supports the assertion that motor disturbances are a core feature of delirium and monitoring physical function, using a tool such as the HABAM, may have clinical utility as a surrogate marker for delirium and its resolution.Physical function Hospital related EpidemiologyPhysical function Hospital related Epidemiology
Author(s): Richardson S, Murray J, Davis D, Stephan BCM, Robinson L, Brayne C, Barnes L, Parker S, Sayer A, Dodds R, Allan L
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: The Journals of Gerontology Series A
Year: 2022
Volume: 77
Issue: 3
Pages: 531-535
Online publication date: 16/03/2021
Acceptance date: 09/03/2021
Date deposited: 09/03/2021
ISSN (print): 1079-5006
ISSN (electronic): 1758-535X
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glab081
DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab081
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