According to the report, the elderly are most likely to experience delirium during and after a hospital stay. A variety of factors may contribute to the onset, including dehydration, medication, interrupted sleep and lack of social interaction. Perhaps most notably, patients with delirium lasting more than a year experience a threefold mortality rate compared to lucid patients, according to the report.
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In light of the data, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s University Hospital in Newark, Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center in Summit and Newark Beth Israel, are each identifying ways to prevent the onset of delirium. Prevention methods include hiring an activity therapist and studying drug interactions.
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