Risk and clinical-outcome indicators of delirium in an emergency department intermediate care unit (EDIMCU) : an observational prospective study

We are thankful to the staff at the EDIMCU of Hospital de Braga.Background Identification of delirium in emergency departments (ED) is often underestimated; within EDs, studies on delirium assessment and relation with patient outcome in Intermediate Care Units (IMCU) appear missing in European hospital settings. Here we aimed to determine delirium prevalence in an EDIMCU (Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal) and assessed routine biochemical parameters that might be delirium indicators. Methods The study was prospective and observational. Sedation level was assessed via the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale and delirium status by the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. Information collected included age and gender, admission type, Charlson Comorbidity Index combined condition score (Charlson score), systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (SIRS), biochemical parameters (blood concentration of urea nitrogen, creatinine, hemoglobin, sodium and potassium, arterial blood gases, and other parameters as needed depending on clinical diagnosis) and EDIMCU length of stay (LOS). Statistical analyses were performed as appropriate to determine if baseline features differed between the ‘Delirium’ and ‘No Delirium’ groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the effect of delirium on the 1-month outcome. Results Inclusion and exclusion criteria were met in 283 patients; 238 were evaluated at 1-month for outcome follow-up after EDIMCU discharge (“good” recovery without complications requiring hospitalization or institutionalization; “poor” institutionalization in permanent care-units/assisted-living or death). Delirium was diagnosed in 20.1% patients and was significantly associated with longer EDIMCU LOS. At admission, Delirium patients were significantly older and had significantly higher blood urea, creatinine and osmolarity levels and significantly lower hemoglobin levels, when compared with No Delirium patients. Delirium was an independent predictor of increased EDIMCU LOS (odds ratio 3.65, 95% CI 1.97-6.75) and poor outcome at 1-month after discharge (odds ratio 3.51, CI 1.84-6.70), adjusted for age, gender, admission type, presence of SIRS criteria, Charlson score and osmolarity at admission. Conclusions In an EDIMCU setting, delirium was associated with longer LOS and poor outcome at1-month post-discharge. Altogether, findings support the need for delirium screening and management in emergency settings.NCS is supported by the post-doctoral fellowship UMINHO/BPD/013/2011 by the European Commission (FP7) “SwitchBox” Project (Contract HEALTH-F2-2010-259772)

The Future is Now: Software-Guided Intensive Insulin Therapy in the Critically Ill

Since the development of intensive insulin therapy for the critically ill adult, tight glycemic control (TGC) has become increasingly complicated to apply and achieve. Software-guided (SG) algorithms for insulin dosing represent a new method to achieve euglycemia in critical illness. We provide an overview of the state of SG TGC with an eye to the future. The current milieu is disorganized, with little research that incorporates newer variables of dysglycemia, such as glycemic variability. To develop and implement better algorithms, scientists, programmers, and clinicians need to standardize measurements and variables