The prevalence and the risk factors for delirium in the elderly after cardiac surgery in intensive care unit

Delirium is a neuropsychiatric syndrome and commonly seen after cardiac surgery. in intensive care units, it has a high prevalence in the elderly but is not easily recognized by clinicians or in critically ill patient. delirium is thought as an expected minor complication of other diseases such as depression, intensive care syndrome, dementia. the goal of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with delirium after open heart surgery in the 65 years and older patients in the intensive care unit. the sample consisted of 217 patients admitted to an intensive care unit. data were collected using the confusion assessment method (cam) and the dsm iv. the prevalence of delirium was 29,5% . the risk factors determining the development of delirium in the eldery were detected as, advanced age, male gender, high apache ii value, nyha>2, cerebrovascular disease, poor physical condition, aortic surgery, operative time, ischemia time, low hematocrit (<30), increase in blood lactate level (>1.2 mmol/l), hypoalbuminemia (<3g/dl), increased bun / creatinine ratio (>18), immobilization, postoperative 48 hours of medications, sleep disturbance and intensive care unit stay. after open heart surgery delirium is a multifactorial disease in elderly patients. in cardiac surgery to identify and control of risk factors reduce the length of hospitalization and discharge. its most importantly to reduce morbidity, and mortality.