Delirium Simple Facts

• More than 7 million hospitalized Americans suffer from delirium each year.
• Among hospitalized patients who survived their delirium episode, the rates of persistent delirium at discharge are 45%, 1 month 33%, 3 months 26%, and 6 months 21%.
• More than 60% of patients with delirium are not recognized by the health care system.
• Compared to hospitalized patients with no delirium (after adjusting for age, gender, race, and comorbidity), delirious patients have:
  • Higher mortality rates at one month (14% vs. 5%), at six months (22% vs. 11%), and 23 months (38% vs. 28%)
  • Longer hospital lengths of stay (21 vs. 9 days)
  • A higher probability of receiving care in long-term care setting at discharge (47% vs. 18%), 6 months (43% vs. 8%), and at 15 months (33% vs. 11%)
  • A higher probability of developing dementia at 48 months (63% vs. 8%)