journal articles
THE RELATIONSHIP OF HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS, DELIRIUM AND COGNITIVE STATUS IN HOSPITALIZED GERIATRIC PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM THE CRIME STUDY
G. Brombo, L. Bianchi, E. Savino, S. Magon, A. Cherubini, A. Corsonello, G. Zuliani, G. Onder, S. Volpato
J Prev Alz Dis 2015;2(3):178-183
Objective: Delirium is a frequent clinical complication in geriatric patients admitted to the hospital, because of the simultaneous presence and synergistic effect of predisposing and precipitating factors. Also anaemia is a common concern in geriatric population. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between anaemia (precipitating factor) and delirium in a sample of Italian older hospitalized patients with different degree of cognitive impairment (predisposing factor).
Design, setting, participants: Cross-sectional analysis of 1069 participants enrolled in the CRIME study, with assessment of hemoglobin levels at hospital admission.
Measurements: Delirium was assessed using DSM-IV criteria, whereas cognitive status was categorized as dementia, cognitive impairment or normal, according to clinical history, specific treatment and MMSE score. Anaemia was defined according to sex-specific WHO criteria. The association of hemoglobin levels and delirium was investigated with multivariable logistic regression models.
Results: Mean age of study participants was 81.4±7.2 years, 52.2% had prevalent anaemia, 6.1% had delirium. According to cognitive status 20.8% had dementia and 40.9% had cognitive impairment. Overall there was no association between anaemia and delirium. However, among patients with cognitive impairment (MMSE <24, no dementia) anaemia was significantly associated with the likelihood of delirium (p<0.006). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for potential confounders, showed in these patients a graded increased risk of delirium according to anaemia severity with an almost six-fold increased risk of delirium in moderate-severe anaemia (OR 5.95, 95% CI:1.15-30.73).
Conclusion: In older patients with cognitive impairment moderate-severe anaemia is independently associated with the likelihood of delirium. Further studies should investigate if anaemia correction would translate in delirium risk reduction.
CITATION:
G. Brombo ; L. Bianchi ; E. Savino ; S. Magon ; A. Cherubini ; A. Corsonello ; G. Zuliani ; G. Onder ; S. Volpato (2015): The Relationship of Hemoglobin Levels, Delirium and Cognitive Status in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients: Results from the CRIME Study. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (JPAD). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2015.49