Delirium in Older COVID-19 Patients Linked to Decline in Functional and Cognitive Abilities
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that older COVID-19 patients who experience delirium during their hospital stay may face a decline in functional and cognitive abilities post-discharge. Factors exacerbated by the pandemic, such as extended hospital stays and social isolation, contributed to the increased risk of delirium. In-hospital delirium was associated with higher functional disability rates and worsened cognitive symptoms in the 6 months following discharge.
Significant Link Found Between Delirium and Dementia in Older Patients
Study reveals significant link between delirium and dementia in older patients, with those who experience delirium during hospitalization developing dementia at triple the rate of those who do not. Delirium cohort diagnosed with dementia at three times the rate of non-delirium cohort, highlighting the importance of identifying frailty as a medical condition rather than an inevitable aspect of aging.