Frontiers in Psychiatry (Nov 2020)

Delirium: Clinical Presentation and Outcomes in Older COVID-19 Patients

  • Renzo Rozzini,
  • Renzo Rozzini,
  • Angelo Bianchetti,
  • Angelo Bianchetti,
  • Francesca Mazzeo,
  • Giulia Cesaroni,
  • Luca Bianchetti,
  • Marco Trabucchi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.586686
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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The aim of the study is to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of a series of older patients consecutively admitted into a non-ICU ward due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (14, males 11), developing delirium. Hypokinetic delirium with lethargy and confusion was observed in 43% of cases (6/14 patients). A total of eight patients exhibited hyperkinetic delirium and 50% of these patients (4/8) died. The overall mortality rate was 71% (10/14 patients). Among the four survivors we observed two different clinical patterns: two patients exhibited dementia and no ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), while the remaining two patients exhibited ARDS and no dementia. The observed different clinical patterns of delirium (hypokinetic delirium; hyperkinetic delirium with or without dementia; hyperkinetic delirium with or without ARDS) identified patients with different prognosis: we believe these observations may have an impact on the management of older subjects with delirium due to COVID-19.

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