Causes of Acute Confusional State in Medical Consultations for Elderly Patients

Adnan Al-Naemee, Adil; Mohammed Taher Al-Taleb, Nameer; Al-Mahdawi, Akram

	Causes of Acute Confusional State in Medical Consultations for Elderly Patients
IRAQI JOURNALOF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
Article 1, Volume 23, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 4-9
Authors
Adil Adnan Al-Naemee; Nameer Mohammed Taher Al-Taleb; Akram Al-Mahdawi
Abstract
Objective: Assessment of the causes of acute confusional state in elderly patients in medical consultation of physicians for neurologists in what is considered as obscure cases. Methods: This is an observational prospective study that enrolled 100 elderly patients with acute confessional state regarding medical consultations to the neurologist in obscure cases in Al-Yarmouk teaching hospital in Baghdad-Iraq during the period between the 1st of June,2004 to 31st of May ,2006. All of the patients have been subjected to thorough clinical assessment and laboratory investigations. Results: This study reveals slight female predominance that represent 56% of cases with acute confusional state. The mean age of patients was 70 years. The most common risk factors are dementia: 35%, pre existing brain disease: 40%, sensory deprivation: 55%.The mortality rate is 35%. Case distribution was as follow: community acquired acute confusional state represent 70% of cases while hospital acquired acute confusional state represented 30% of cases. The most common causes were: infection; 30%, metabolic; 25.7%& neurological; 25.7%. Conclusions: This study reveals that the causes of A.C.S. in old age patients are of huge number & the commonest are infection, metabolic, & central nervous system disorders. Keywords: Delirium, confusion, elderly, neurology, medical, consultation
Keywords
Delirium; confusion; elderly; neurology; medical; consultation

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