The Association between Delirium and In-Hospital Falls: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Delirium Screening Program

• Authors: Benjamin Kalivas, Medical University of South Carolina; Jingwen Zhang, Medical University of South Carolina; Kristine Harper, Medical University of South Carolina; Meghan K Thomas, Medical University of South Carolina; Jennifer Dulin, Morsani College of Medicine; Justin Marsden, Medical University of South Carolina; Patrick Robbins, Emory University; Kelly J Hunt, Medical University of South Carolina; Patick D Mauldin, Medical University of South Carolina; William P Moran, Medical University of South Carolina; James Rudolph, Brown University; Marc Heincelman, Medical University of South Carolina
• Journal Title: Journal of Aging Research
• Volume: Volume 2023
• Publisher: Hindawi | 2023-01-01, Pages 1562773-1562773
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1562773
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Mental Health; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Delirium; In-Hospital Falls

Abstract

Rationale. In-hospital falls and delirium are important events to understand in the hospital setting. Although the link between these events is well described, the impact on patient outcomes and the health system necessitates duplication with the use of accessible delirium screening tools. Aims and Objectives. To understand the association of delirium and falls. Methods. A cross-sectional study using delirium screening and falls reports was used to measure the association between delirium and falls. All inpatient data from August, 2018, to January, 2020, at a large academic medical center were analyzed. A multivariable logistic regression of 29,655 hospital admissions was used to understand the association between in-hospital delirium and falls. Results. Analysis revealed a delirium rate of 12.5% (n = 3,707) of all admissions and 286 (0.9%) admissions with falls; of the falls studied, 37.6% of these patients screened positive for delirium during their admission. Relative to those who screened negative for delirium, admissions that screened positive for delirium had a 2.81 increased odds of falling. Conclusions. Delirium and falls are related. This strong association should motivate health systems to look closely at both problems. Falls and delirium can both have immense impacts on the patient and the health system. The powerful association between them provides a window to reduce these additional patient harms. More specifically, a modern delirium screening tool should be used as part of routine risk assessment focused on reducing in-hospital falls.