PURPOSE
The aims of this study were to describe the incidence rate of delirium and to identify factors influencing delirium in neurological intensive care unit patients.
METHODS
The participants were 193 critically ill patients with neurological disorder from Chonbuk national university hospital in Jeonju. Data were collected between April 1 and November 25, 2017 using four structured questionnaires: Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit, Glasgow Coma Scale, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, and Karnofsky Performance Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression using the SPSS/WIN 24.0 program.
RESULTS
The incidence rate of delirium was 11.9%. Delirium was related with age, length of stay in intensive care unit, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Karnofsky Performance Scale score, use of physical restraint, antihypertensive drugs, and anticonvulsants. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, length of stay in intensive care unit, use of physical restraint, and anticonvulsants were factors influencing delirium in neurological intensive care unit patients.
CONCLUSION
Delirium was related to demographic, clinical, medication-related, and environmental factors in patients in neurological intensive care units. Therefore, nurses should consider the patient's age, length of stay intensive care unit, use of physical restraint, and anticonvulsants in assessing delirium in neurological intensive care unit patients. Delirium prevention programs considering these factors may be effective for such patients.

Citations

• Factors-related to the severity of delirium among older adults in neurologic intensive care units: A retrospective study using electronic medical record data
  Ae Young Cho, JiYeon Choi, Jung Yeon Kim, Kyung Hee Lee
  Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing.2025; 27(2): 166.     CrossRef
• Risk Factors for Delirium in Trauma Intensive Care Unit Patients
  Jongran Kim, Jeong-Ah Ahn
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2020; 32(6): 623.     CrossRef