Age and ageing
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The number of people over 65 is increasing and those over 65 requiring surgery will likewise increase. Post-operative delirium (POD) affects up to 47% of patients undergoing surgery and is more prevalent in older people. ⋯ Many factors have been associated with increased risk of POD, including age, cognitive impairment, gender, depression, alcohol, drug use, smoking, co-morbidity, functional status, ASA score and pre-operative biochemical and haematological abnormalities. This article reviews the literature associated with the above factors, considers frailty as a factor and also suggests that POD may be associated with rapidity of onset and severity of the insult to the patient.
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Delirium is a serious and common disorder especially among older people on inpatients units. Numerous modifiable or manageable delirium risk factors have been identified. As a result, there is now a widespread notion that many cases of delirium can be prevented. ⋯ Nevertheless, the majority of these support a role for non-pharmacological interventions in delirium prevention. While more research is certainly needed, the majority of available data are based on best practice protocols, guidelines and interventions. Hence, a consistent and concerted effort is now justified to introduce non-pharmacological prevention strategies across units to help tackle the increasingly prevalent delirium among older people.