Pathophysiology Review

Delirium affects 70% to 80% of intensive care unit patients and is associated with a 10-fold increase in rates of cognitive impairment at discharge and a 3-fold increase in mortality rates. Estimated costs are 152 billion in Medicare charges annually, 17.5 million inpatient days, and 30-day postdischarge costs of 38 726 per patient. Delirium is an acute disorder of attention and global cognitive function characterized by fluctuating symptoms...