Cognitive Impairment and Age-Related Vision Disorders: Their Possible Relationship and the Evaluation of the Use of Aspirin and Statins in a 65 Years-and-Over Sardinian Population

Neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, vascular and mixed dementia) and visual loss (cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy) are among the most common conditions that afflict people of at least 65 years of age. An increasing body of evidence is emerging, which demonstrates that memory and vision impairment are closely, significantly, and positively linked and that statins and aspirin may lessen the risk of developing age-related visual and neurological problems. However, clinical studies have produced contradictory results. Thus, the intent of the present study was to reliably establish whether a relationship exist between various types of dementia and age-related vision disorders, and to establish whether statins and aspirin may or may not have beneficial effects on these two types of disorders. We found that participants with dementia and/or vision problems were more likely to be depressed and displayed worse functional ability in basic and instrumental activities of daily living than controls. Mini mental state examination scores were significantly lower in patients with vision disorders compared to subjects without vision disorders. A closer association with macular degeneration was found in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease than in subjects without dementia or with vascular dementia, mixed dementia, or other types of age-related vision disorders. When we considered the associations between different types of dementia and vision disorders and the use of statins and aspirin, we found a significant positive association between Alzheimer’s disease and statins on their own or in combination with aspirin, indicating that these two drugs do not appear to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or improve its clinical evolution and may, on the contrary, favor its development. No significant association in statin use alone, aspirin use alone, or the combination of these was found in subjects without vision disorders but with dementia, and, similarly, none in subjects with vision disorders but without dementia. Overall, these results confirm the general impression so far; namely, that macular degeneration may contribute to cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s disease in particular). In addition, they also suggest that, while statin and aspirin use may undoubtedly have some protective effects, they do not appear to be magic pills against the development of cognitive impairment or vision disorders in the elderly

"Delirium Day": A nationwide point prevalence study of delirium in older hospitalized patients using an easy standardized diagnostic tool

Background: To date, delirium prevalence in adult acute hospital populations has been estimated generally from pooled findings of single-center studies and/or among specific patient populations. Furthermore, the number of participants in these studies has not exceeded a few hundred. To overcome these limitations, we have determined, in a multicenter study, the prevalence of delirium over a single day among a large population of patients admitted to acute and rehabilitation hospital wards in Italy. Methods: This is a point prevalence study (called "Delirium Day") including 1867 older patients (aged 65 years or more) across 108 acute and 12 rehabilitation wards in Italian hospitals. Delirium was assessed on the same day in all patients using the 4AT, a validated and briefly administered tool which does not require training. We also collected data regarding motoric subtypes of delirium, functional and nutritional status, dementia, comorbidity, medications, feeding tubes, peripheral venous and urinary catheters, and physical restraints. Results: The mean sample age was 82.0 \ub1 7.5 years (58 % female). Overall, 429 patients (22.9 %) had delirium. Hypoactive was the commonest subtype (132/344 patients, 38.5 %), followed by mixed, hyperactive, and nonmotoric delirium. The prevalence was highest in Neurology (28.5 %) and Geriatrics (24.7 %), lowest in Rehabilitation (14.0 %), and intermediate in Orthopedic (20.6 %) and Internal Medicine wards (21.4 %). In a multivariable logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05), Activities of Daily Living dependence (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.12-1.27), dementia (OR 3.25, 95 % CI 2.41-4.38), malnutrition (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), and use of antipsychotics (OR 2.03, 95 % CI 1.45-2.82), feeding tubes (OR 2.51, 95 % CI 1.11-5.66), peripheral venous catheters (OR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.06-1.87), urinary catheters (OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.30-2.29), and physical restraints (OR 1.84, 95 % CI 1.40-2.40) were associated with delirium. Admission to Neurology wards was also associated with delirium (OR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), while admission to other settings was not. Conclusions: Delirium occurred in more than one out of five patients in acute and rehabilitation hospital wards. Prevalence was highest in Neurology and lowest in Rehabilitation divisions. The "Delirium Day" project might become a useful method to assess delirium across hospital settings and a benchmarking platform for future surveys

RBANS: un valido strumento di valutazione cognitiva in soggetti HIV-infetti in cART = RBANS: a valid tool for cognitive assessment of HIV-infected people on cART

Introduction. Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) has dramatically modified prognosis of individuals with HIV infection, and also the HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) spectrum, with reduction of the most severe form of HAND, HIV-Associated Dementia (HAD), but with persistence of the milder forms (ANI: Asymptomatic Neurocognitive Impairment; MND: Mild Neurocognitive Disorder). Screening of HAND requires efficient tools. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a tool that is fast and easy to use, and which is able to assess different cognitive domains. Our purpose is to evaluate the utility of RBANS in screening HAND. Materials and methods. 95 HIV-infected patients (mean age 47.8 +/- 8.0, range 26-74 years; mean duration of infection 17.0 +/- 8.5, range 1-32 years) on cART, run by Internal Medicine, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University of Cagliari, underwent neuropsychological assessment with MMSE, Clock Test and RBANS. Results obtained were compared with participants in the RBANS validation study for the Italian population (control group). Results. Mean scores in MMSE and Clock Test were 29.3 +/- 1.3 and 8.5 +/- 1.4, respectively, indicative of normal cognitive abilities. In RBANS evaluation, however, the total index score was significantly lower than the mean of the control group (84.9 +/- 13.6, P < 0.001), as were indices of immediate memory (82.4 +/- 14.1), language (91.2 +/- 10), attention (87.9 +/- 16.1) and delayed memory (87.3 +/- 17.6). Conclusions. Our results support the utility of RBANS for identification of HAND in HIV-infected people on cART

The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status as a screening strategy for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders

HIV-infected people are at risk for neurocognitive impairment (HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders–HAND). To evaluate whether the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), a widely used neurocognitive screening tool, could be a valid instrument for HAND identification, we evaluated 166 HIV-infected subjects. Our results showed that 96 (57.8%) HIV-infected scored RBANS Total Index Score &lt;85 (at least one SD below the normal), 12 (7.2%) of them scored RBANS Total Index Score &lt;70 (at least 2 SD below the normal, indicating a possible HIV-Associated Dementia). The more compromised areas were Immediate and Delayed Memory, and Attention. In the group with RBANS Total Index Score &lt;85, there were significantly lower scores of Mini Mental State Examination (P = 0.0008), Clock Drawing Test (P = 0.0015) and higher score of Geriatric Depression Scale (P = 0.02) compared to the RBANS Total Index Score ≥85 group. Using a stepwise logistic regression, considering RBANS Total Index Score as dependent variable, we found a positive interaction with tenofovir/emtricitabine assumption (P = 0.027), Clock Drawing Test (P = 0.0125) and educational level (P = 0.0054). Being the viro-immunological markers not capable of predicting cognitive decline in HIV-infected individuals, our data suggest that RBANS may be a valid tool for the early identification of HIV-related cognitive impairment

Delirium and Clusters of Older Patients Affected by Multimorbidity in Acute Hospitals.

Objectives: Delirium is commonly seen in older adults with multimorbidity, during a hospitalization, resulting from the interplay between predisposing factors such as advanced age, frailty, and dementia, and a series of precipitating factors. The association between delirium and specific multimorbidity is largely unexplored so far although of potential key relevance for targeted interventions. The aim of the study was to check for a potential association of multimorbidity with delirium in a large cohort of older patients hospitalized for an acute medical or surgical condition. Design: This is a cross-sectional study nested in the 2017 Delirium Day project. Setting and participants: The study includes 1829 hospitalized patients (age: 81.8, SD: 5.5). Of them, 419 (22.9%) had delirium. Methods: Sociodemographic and medical history were collected. The 4AT was used to assess the presence of delirium. The Charlson Comorbidity index was used to assess multimorbidity. Results: The results identified neurosensorial multimorbidity as the most prevalent, including patients with dementia, cerebrovascular diseases, and sensory impairments. In light of the highest co-occurrence of 3 neurosensorial chronic conditions, we could hypothesize that a baseline altered brain functional and neural connectivity might determine the vulnerability signature for incipient overall system disruption in presence of acute insults. Conclusions and implications: Eventually, our findings moved a step forward in supporting the key importance of routine screening for sensory impairments and cognitive status of older patients for the highest risk of in-hospital delirium. In fact, preventive interventions could be particularly relevant and effective in preventing delirium in such vulnerable populations and might help refining this early diagnosis

Visual and Hearing Impairment Are Associated With Delirium in Hospitalized Patients: Results of a Multisite Prevalence Study

426noreservedObjective: Sensory deficits are important risk factors for delirium but have been investigated in single-center studies and single clinical settings. This multicenter study aims to evaluate the association between hearing and visual impairment or bi-sensory impairment (visual and hearing impairment) and delirium. Design: Cross-sectional study nested in the 2017 “Delirium Day” project. Setting and Participants: Patients 65 years and older admitted to acute hospital medical wards, emergency departments, rehabilitation wards, nursing homes, and hospices in Italy. Methods: Delirium was assessed with the 4AT (a short tool for delirium assessment) and sensory deficits with a clinical evaluation. We assessed the association between delirium, hearing and visual impairment in multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting for: Model 1, we included predisposing factors for delirium (ie, dementia, weight loss and autonomy in the activities of daily living); Model 2, we added to Model 1 variables, which could be considered precipitating factors for delirium (ie, psychoactive drugs and urinary catheters). Results: A total of 3038 patients were included; delirium prevalence was 25%. Patients with delirium had a higher prevalence of hearing impairment (30.5% vs 18%; P &lt;.001), visual impairment (24.2% vs 15.7%; P &lt;.01) and bi-sensory impairment (16.2% vs 7.5%) compared with those without delirium. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the presence of bi-sensory impairment was associated with delirium in Model 1 [odds ratio (OR) 1.5, confidence interval (CI) 1.2–2.1; P =.00] and in Model 2 (OR 1.4; CI 1.1–1.9; P =.02), whereas the presence of visual and hearing impairment alone was not associated with delirium either in Model 1 (OR 0.8; CI 0.6–1.2, P =.36; OR 1.1; CI 0.8–1.4; P =.42) or in Model 2 (OR 0.8, CI 0.6–1.2, P =.27; OR 1.1, CI 0.8–1.4, P =.63). Conclusions and implications: Our findings support the importance of routine screening and specific interventions by a multidisciplinary team to implement optimal management of sensory impairments and hence prevention and the management of the patients with delirium.mixedMorandi A.; Inzitari M.; Udina C.; Gual N.; Mota M.; Tassistro E.; Andreano A.; Cherubini A.; Gentile S.; Mossello E.; Marengoni A.; Olive A.; Riba F.; Ruiz D.; de Jaime E.; Bellelli G.; Tarasconi A.; Sella M.; Auriemma S.; Paterno G.; Faggian G.; Lucarelli C.; De Grazia N.; Alberto C.; Margola A.; Porcella L.; Nardiello I.; Chimenti E.; Zeni M.; Giani A.; Famularo S.; Romairone E.; Minaglia C.; Ceccotti C.; Guerra G.; Mantovani G.; Monacelli F.; Candiani T.; Ballestrero A.; Santolini F.; Rosso M.; Bono V.; Sibilla S.; Dal Santo P.; Ceci M.; Barone P.; Schirinzi T.; Formenti A.; Nastasi G.; Isaia G.; Gonella D.; Battuello A.; Casson S.; Calvani D.; Boni F.; Ciaccio A.; Rosa R.; Sanna G.; Manfredini S.; Cortese L.; Rizzo M.; Prestano R.; Greco A.; Lauriola M.; Gelosa G.; Piras V.; Arena M.; Cosenza D.; Bellomo A.; LaMontagna M.; Gabbani L.; Lambertucci L.; Perego S.; Parati G.; Basile G.; Gallina V.; Pilone G.; Giudice C.; De F.; Pietrogrande L.; De B.; Mosca M.; Corazzin I.; Rossi P.; Nunziata V.; D'Amico F.; Grippa A.; Giardini S.; Barucci R.; Cossu A.; Fiorin L.; Distefano M.; Lunardelli M.; Brunori M.; Ruffini I.; Abraham E.; Varutti A.; Fabbro E.; Catalano A.; Martino G.; Leotta D.; Marchet A.; Dell'Aquila G.; Scrimieri A.; Davoli M.; Casella M.; Cartei A.; Polidori G.; Brischetto D.; Motta S.; Saponara R.; Perrone P.; Russo G.; Del D.; Car C.; Pirina T.; Franzoni S.; Cotroneo A.; Ghiggia F.; Volpi G.; Menichetti C.; Bo M.; Panico A.; Calogero P.; Corvalli G.; Mauri M.; Lupia E.; Manfredini R.; Fabbian F.; March A.; Pedrotti M.; Veronesi M.; Strocchi E.; Borghi C.; Bianchetti A.; Crucitti A.; DiFrancesco V.; Fontana G.; Bonanni L.; Barbone F.; Serrati C.; Ballardini G.; Simoncelli M.; Ceschia G.; Scarpa C.; Brugiolo R.; Fusco S.; Ciarambino T.; Biagini C.; Tonon E.; Porta M.; Venuti D.; DelSette M.; Poeta M.; Barbagallo G.; Trovato G.; Delitala A.; Arosio P.; Reggiani F.; Zuliani G.; Ortolani B.; Mussio E.; Girardi A.; Coin A.; Ruotolo G.; Castagna A.; Masina M.; Cimino R.; Pinciaroli A.; Tripodi G.; Cannistra U.; Cassadonte F.; Vatrano M.; Scaglione L.; Fogliacco P.; Muzzuilini C.; Romano F.; Padovani A.; Rozzini L.; Cagnin A.; Fragiacomo F.; Desideri G.; Liberatore E.; Bruni A.; Orsitto G.; Franco M.; Bonfrate L.; Bonetto M.; Pizio N.; Magnani G.; Cecchetti G.; Longo A.; Bubba V.; Marinan L.; Cotelli M.; Turla M.; Sessa M.; Abruzzi L.; Castoldi G.; LoVetere D.; Musacchio C.; Novello M.; Cavarape A.; Bini A.; Leonardi A.; Seneci F.; Grimaldi W.; Fimognari F.; Bambara V.; Saitta A.; Corica F.; Braga M.; Ettorre E.; Camellini C.; Bellelli G.; Annoni G.; Crescenzo A.; Noro G.; Turco R.; Ponzetto M.; Giuseppe L.; Mazzei B.; Maiuri G.; Costaggiu D.; Damato R.; Formilan M.; Patrizia G.; Gallucci M.; Paragona M.; Bini P.; Modica D.; Abati C.; Clerici M.; Barbera I.; NigroImperiale F.; Manni A.; Votino C.; Castiglioni C.; Di M.; Degl'Innocenti M.; Moscatelli G.; Guerini S.; Casini C.; Dini D.; D'Imporzano E.; DeNotariis S.; Bonometti F.; Paolillo C.; Riccardi A.; Tiozzo A.; DiBari M.; Vanni S.; Scarpa A.; Zara D.; Ranieri P.; Alessandro M.; Di F.; Pezzoni D.; Platto C.; D'Ambrosio V.; Ivaldi C.; Milia P.; DeSalvo F.; Solaro C.; Strazzacappa M.; Cazzadori M.; Confente S.; Grasso M.; Troisi E.; Guerini V.; Bernardini B.; Corsini C.; Boffelli S.; Filippi A.; Delpin K.; Faraci B.; Bertoletti E.; Vannucci M.; Tesi F.; Crippa P.; Malighetti A.; Bettini D.; Maltese F.; Abruzzese G.; Cosimo D.; Azzini M.; Colombo M.; Procino G.; Fascendini S.; Barocco F.; Del P.; Mazzone A.; Riva E.; Dell'Acqua D.; Cottino M.; Vezzadini G.; Avanzi S.; Brambilla C.; Orini S.; Sgrilli F.; Mello A.; Lombardi L.; Muti E.; Dijk B.; Fenu S.; Pes C.; Gareri P.; Passamonte M.; Rigo R.; Locusta L.; Caser L.; Rosso G.; Cesarini S.; Cozzi R.; Santini C.; Carbone P.; Cazzaniga I.; Lovati R.; Cantoni A.; Ranzani P.; Barra D.; Pompilio G.; Dimori S.; Cernesi S.; Ricco C.; Piazzolla F.; Capittini E.; Rota C.; Gottardi F.; Merla L.; Barelli A.; Millul A.; De G.; Morrone G.; Bigolari M.; Macchi M.; Zambon F.; Pizzorni C.; DiCasaleto G.; Menculini G.; Marcacci M.; Catanese G.; Sprini D.; DiCasalet T.; Bocci M.; Borga S.; Caironi P.; Cat C.; Cingolani E.; Avalli L.; Greco G.; Citerio G.; Gandini L.; Cornara G.; Lerda R.; Brazzi L.; Simeone F.; Caciorgna M.; Alampi D.; Francesconi S.; Beck E.; Antonini B.; Vettoretto K.; Meggiolaro M.; Garofalo E.; Notaro S.; Varutti R.; Bassi F.; Mistraletti G.; Marino A.; Rona R.; Rondelli E.; Riva I.; Scapigliati A.; Cortegiani A.; Vitale F.; Pistidda L.; D'Andrea R.; Querci L.; Gnesin P.; Todeschini M.; Lugano M.; Castelli G.; Ortolani M.; Cotoia A.; Maggiore S.; DiTizio L.; Graziani R.; Testa I.; Ferretti E.; Castioni C.; Lombardi F.; Caserta R.; Pasqua M.; Simoncini S.; Baccarini F.; Rispoli M.; Grossi F.; Cancelliere L.; Carnelli M.; Puccini F.; Biancofiore G.; Siniscalchi A.; Laici C.; Mossello E.; Torrini M.; Pasetti G.; Palmese S.; Oggioni R.; Mangani V.; Pini S.; Martelli M.; Rigo E.; Zuccala F.; Cherri A.; Spina R.; Calamai I.; Petrucci N.; Caicedo A.; Ferri F.; Gritti P.; Brienza N.; Fonnesu R.; Dessena M.; Fullin G.; Saggioro D.Morandi, A.; Inzitari, M.; Udina, C.; Gual, N.; Mota, M.; Tassistro, E.; Andreano, A.; Cherubini, A.; Gentile, S.; Mossello, E.; Marengoni, A.; Olive, A.; Riba, F.; Ruiz, D.; de Jaime, E.; Bellelli, G.; Tarasconi, A.; Sella, M.; Auriemma, S.; Paterno, G.; Faggian, G.; Lucarelli, C.; De Grazia, N.; Alberto, C.; Margola, A.; Porcella, L.; Nardiello, I.; Chimenti, E.; Zeni, M.; Giani, A.; Famularo, S.; Romairone, E.; Minaglia, C.; Ceccotti, C.; Guerra, G.; Mantovani, G.; Monacelli, F.; Candiani, T.; Ballestrero, A.; Santolini, F.; Rosso, M.; Bono, V.; Sibilla, S.; Dal Santo, P.; Ceci, M.; Barone, P.; Schirinzi, T.; Formenti, A.; Nastasi, G.; Isaia, G.; Gonella, D.; Battuello, A.; Casson, S.; Calvani, D.; Boni, F.; Ciaccio, A.; Rosa, R.; Sanna, G.; Manfredini, S.; Cortese, L.; Rizzo, M.; Prestano, R.; Greco, A.; Lauriola, M.; Gelosa, G.; Piras, V.; Arena, M.; Cosenza, D.; Bellomo, A.; Lamontagna, M.; Gabbani, L.; Lambertucci, L.; Perego, S.; Parati, G.; Basile, G.; Gallina, V.; Pilone, G.; Giudice, C.; De, F.; Pietrogrande, L.; De, B.; Mosca, M.; Corazzin, I.; Rossi, P.; Nunziata, V.; D'Amico, F.; Grippa, A.; Giardini, S.; Barucci, R.; Cossu, A.; Fiorin, L.; Distefano, M.; Lunardelli, M.; Brunori, M.; Ruffini, I.; Abraham, E.; Varutti, A.; Fabbro, E.; Catalano, A.; Martino, G.; Leotta, D.; Marchet, A.; Dell'Aquila, G.; Scrimieri, A.; Davoli, M.; Casella, M.; Cartei, A.; Polidori, G.; Brischetto, D.; Motta, S.; Saponara, R.; Perrone, P.; Russo, G.; Del, D.; Car, C.; Pirina, T.; Franzoni, S.; Cotroneo, A.; Ghiggia, F.; Volpi, G.; Menichetti, C.; Bo, M.; Panico, A.; Calogero, P.; Corvalli, G.; Mauri, M.; Lupia, E.; Manfredini, R.; Fabbian, F.; March, A.; Pedrotti, M.; Veronesi, M.; Strocchi, E.; Borghi, C.; Bianchetti, A.; Crucitti, A.; Difrancesco, V.; Fontana, G.; Bonanni, L.; Barbone, F.; Serrati, C.; Ballardini, G.; Simoncelli, M.; Ceschia, G.; Scarpa, C.; Brugiolo, R.; Fusco, S.; Ciarambino, T.; Biagini, C.; Tonon, E.; Porta, M.; Venuti, D.; Delsette, M.; Poeta, M.; Barbagallo, G.; Trovato, G.; Delitala, A.; Arosio, P.; Reggiani, F.; Zuliani, G.; Ortolani, B.; Mussio, E.; Girardi, A.; Coin, A.; Ruotolo, G.; Castagna, A.; Masina, M.; Cimino, R.; Pinciaroli, A.; Tripodi, G.; Cannistra, U.; Cassadonte, F.; Vatrano, M.; Scaglione, L.; Fogliacco, P.; Muzzuilini, C.; Romano, F.; Padovani, A.; Rozzini, L.; Cagnin, A.; Fragiacomo, F.; Desideri, G.; Liberatore, E.; Bruni, A.; Orsitto, G.; Franco, M.; Bonfrate, L.; Bonetto, M.; Pizio, N.; Magnani, G.; Cecchetti, G.; Longo, A.; Bubba, V.; Marinan, L.; Cotelli, M.; Turla, M.; Sessa, M.; Abruzzi, L.; Castoldi, G.; Lovetere, D.; Musacchio, C.; Novello, M.; Cavarape, A.; Bini, A.; Leonardi, A.; Seneci, F.; Grimaldi, W.; Fimognari, F.; Bambara, V.; Saitta, A.; Corica, F.; Braga, M.; Ettorre, E.; Camellini, C.; Bellelli, G.; Annoni, G.; Crescenzo, A.; Noro, G.; Turco, R.; Ponzetto, M.; Giuseppe, L.; Mazzei, B.; Maiuri, G.; Costaggiu, D.; Damato, R.; Formilan, M.; Patrizia, G.; Gallucci, M.; Paragona, M.; Bini, P.; Modica, D.; Abati, C.; Clerici, M.; Barbera, I.; Nigroimperiale, F.; Manni, A.; Votino, C.; Castiglioni, C.; Di, M.; Degl'Innocenti, M.; Moscatelli, G.; Guerini, S.; Casini, C.; Dini, D.; D'Imporzano, E.; Denotariis, S.; Bonometti, F.; Paolillo, C.; Riccardi, A.; Tiozzo, A.; Dibari, M.; Vanni, S.; Scarpa, A.; Zara, D.; Ranieri, P.; Alessandro, M.; Di, F.; Pezzoni, D.; Platto, C.; D'Ambrosio, V.; Ivaldi, C.; Milia, P.; Desalvo, F.; Solaro, C.; Strazzacappa, M.; Cazzadori, M.; Confente, S.; Grasso, M.; Troisi, E.; Guerini, V.; Bernardini, B.; Corsini, C.; Boffelli, S.; Filippi, A.; Delpin, K.; Faraci, B.; Bertoletti, E.; Vannucci, M.; Tesi, F.; Crippa, P.; Malighetti, A.; Bettini, D.; Maltese, F.; Abruzzese, G.; Cosimo, D.; Azzini, M.; Colombo, M.; Procino, G.; Fascendini, S.; Barocco, F.; Del, P.; Mazzone, A.; Riva, E.; Dell'Acqua, D.; Cottino, M.; Vezzadini, G.; Avanzi, S.; Brambilla, C.; Orini, S.; Sgrilli, F.; Mello, A.; Lombardi, L.; Muti, E.; Dijk, B.; Fenu, S.; Pes, C.; Gareri, P.; Passamonte, M.; Rigo, R.; Locusta, L.; Caser, L.; Rosso, G.; Cesarini, S.; Cozzi, R.; Santini, C.; Carbone, P.; Cazzaniga, I.; Lovati, R.; Cantoni, A.; Ranzani, P.; Barra, D.; Pompilio, G.; Dimori, S.; Cernesi, S.; Ricco, C.; Piazzolla, F.; Capittini, E.; Rota, C.; Gottardi, F.; Merla, L.; Barelli, A.; Millul, A.; De, G.; Morrone, G.; Bigolari, M.; Macchi, M.; Zambon, F.; Pizzorni, C.; Dicasaleto, G.; Menculini, G.; Marcacci, M.; Catanese, G.; Sprini, D.; Dicasalet, T.; Bocci, M.; Borga, S.; Caironi, P.; Cat, C.; Cingolani, E.; Avalli, L.; Greco, G.; Citerio, G.; Gandini, L.; Cornara, G.; Lerda, R.; Brazzi, L.; Simeone, F.; Caciorgna, M.; Alampi, D.; Francesconi, S.; Beck, E.; Antonini, B.; Vettoretto, K.; Meggiolaro, M.; Garofalo, E.; Notaro, S.; Varutti, R.; Bassi, F.; Mistraletti, G.; Marino, A.; Rona, R.; Rondelli, E.; Riva, I.; Scapigliati, A.; Cortegiani, A.; Vitale, F.; Pistidda, L.; D'Andrea, R.; Querci, L.; Gnesin, P.; Todeschini, M.; Lugano, M.; Castelli, G.; Ortolani, M.; Cotoia, A.; Maggiore, S.; Ditizio, L.; Graziani, R.; Testa, I.; Ferretti, E.; Castioni, C.; Lombardi, F.; Caserta, R.; Pasqua, M.; Simoncini, S.; Baccarini, F.; Rispoli, M.; Grossi, F.; Cancelliere, L.; Carnelli, M.; Puccini, F.; Biancofiore, G.; Siniscalchi, A.; Laici, C.; Mossello, E.; Torrini, M.; Pasetti, G.; Palmese, S.; Oggioni, R.; Mangani, V.; Pini, S.; Martelli, M.; Rigo, E.; Zuccala, F.; Cherri, A.; Spina, R.; Calamai, I.; Petrucci, N.; Caicedo, A.; Ferri, F.; Gritti, P.; Brienza, N.; Fonnesu, R.; Dessena, M.; Fullin, G.; Saggioro, D

Prevalence and features of delirium in older patients admitted to rehabilitation facilities: a multicenter study

Background: Delirium is thought to be common across various settings of care; however, still little research has been conducted in rehabilitation. Aim: We investigated the prevalence of delirium, its features and motor subtypes in older patients admitted to rehabilitation facilities during the three editions of the "Delirium Day project". Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which 1237 older patients (age ≥ 65&nbsp;years old) admitted to 50 Italian rehabilitation wards during the three editions of the "Delirium Day project" (2015 to 2017) were included. Delirium was evaluated through the 4AT and its motor subtype with the Delirium Motor Subtype Scale. Results: Delirium was detected in 226 patients (18%), and the most recurrent motor subtype was mixed (37%), followed by hypoactive (26%), hyperactive (21%) and non-motor one (16%). In a multivariate Poisson regression model with robust variance, factors associated with delirium were: disability in basic (PR 1.48, 95%CI: 1.17-1.9, p value 0.001) and instrumental activities of daily living (PR 1.58, 95%CI: 1.08-2.32, p value 0.018), dementia (PR 2.10, 95%CI: 1.62-2.73, p value &lt; 0.0001), typical antipsychotics (PR 1.47, 95%CI: 1.10-1.95, p value 0.008), antidepressants other than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (PR 1.3, 95%CI: 1.02-1.66, p value 0.035), and physical restraints (PR 2.37, 95%CI: 1.68-3.36, p value &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: This multicenter study reports that 2 out 10 patients admitted to rehabilitations had delirium on the index day. Mixed delirium was the most prevalent subtype. Delirium was associated with unmodifiable (dementia, disability) and modifiable (physical restraints, medications) factors. Identification of these factors should prompt specific interventions aimed to prevent or mitigate delirium

The association between low skeletal muscle mass and delirium: results from the nationwide multi-centre Italian Delirium Day 2017

Introduction Delirium and sarcopenia are common, although underdiagnosed, geriatric syndromes. Several pathological mechanisms can link delirium and low skeletal muscle mass, but few studies have investigated their association. We aimed to investigate (1) the association between delirium and low skeletal muscle mass and (2) the possible role of calf circumference mass in finding cases with delirium. Methods The analyses were conducted employing the cross-sectional "Delirium Day" initiative, on patient 65 years and older admitted to acute hospital medical wards, emergency departments, rehabilitation wards, nursing homes and hospices in Italy in 2017. Delirium was diagnosed as a 4 + score at the 4-AT scale. Low skeletal muscle mass was operationally defined as calf circumference &lt;= 34 cm in males and &lt;= 33 cm in females. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between low skeletal muscle mass and delirium. The discriminative ability of calf circumference was evaluated using non-parametric ROC analyses. Results A sample of 1675 patients was analyzed. In total, 73.6% of participants had low skeletal muscle mass and 24.1% exhibited delirium. Low skeletal muscle mass and delirium showed an independent association (OR: 1.50; 95% CI 1.09-2.08). In the subsample of patients without a diagnosis of dementia, the inclusion of calf circumference in a model based on age and sex significantly improved its discriminative accuracy [area under the curve (AUC) 0.69 vs 0.57, p &lt; 0.001]. Discussion and conclusion Low muscle mass is independently associated with delirium. In patients without a previous diagnosis of dementia, calf circumference may help to better identify those who develop delirium