Abstract

PURPOSE
This retrospective chart review study was carried out in order to examine the frequency of delirium, and to identify the risk factors associated with the development of delirium in elderly patients with arthroplasty.
METHODS
Data were collected from medical records of patients who received arthroplasty during one and half year in a hospital. Three hundred sixty five patients were selected for the study. The onset of delirium was reviewed based on the result of psychological doctor's consultation or nurse's assessment with Confusion Assessment Method and delirium onset risk factors were examined. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, chi2-test, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
Delirium occurred with 31 patients (8.5%) out of 365 patients who underwent arthroplasty. There were statistically significant differences between incidence of delirium and gender (chi2=6.11, p=.025), age (chi2=32.81, p<.001), hearing difficulty (chi2=8.08, p=.012), albumin level of preoperational day (t=-3.43, p<.001), albumin (t=-2.20, p=.028) and hemoglobin level (t=-2.83, p=.005) of operational day. Age and gender were the most significant predictive factors with regard to the incidence of delirium.
CONCLUSION
Through understanding of these results, nurses will be able to identify those patients who may be at risk for developing delirium in early stages.