Objective Delirium syndrome is common in the hospitalized population. However, data on its etiological factors are scarce. Clinical observations suggest a relationship between delirium occurrence and seasons. The aim of study was to determine whether a seasonal variation exists in the occurrence of delirium events in-hospital patients. Methods The study included all admissions to the Medical Units of the Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, between January 2002 to December 2010. On the basis of date admission, cases have been analysed for seasonal variation (4 three-month intervals by seasons) by means of conventional statistics. Moreover, cases categorized into 12 one-month intervals were also analyzed by means of a validated chronobiologic inferential method (single cosinor) to search for cyclic variability. Results During the analyzed period, the hospital database contained 74,379 records referring to 42,625 subjects (52.7% females). Delirium diagnoses were 1,300 (1.7% of total sample), 668 of whom in females (51,4%), and 632 in males (48,6%). Events of delirium were more frequent in winter and autumn (26.6% and 26.5%, respectively) than in spring (23.5%) and summer (23.4%). Chronobiological analysis yielded a significant peak of delirium events in January, when considering both the total raw number of cases or the percent of admissions. Conclusions The study seems to indicate in patients hospitalized in Medical Units, a higher rate of occurrence of delirium in autumn-winter, similar to that reported for acute medical diseases. The role of possible underlying favoring or triggering factors deserves further research.

Seasonal variation in the occurrence of delirium in patients admitted to medical units of a general hospital in Italy

MANFREDINI, Roberto
2013

Abstract

Objective Delirium syndrome is common in the hospitalized population. However, data on its etiological factors are scarce. Clinical observations suggest a relationship between delirium occurrence and seasons. The aim of study was to determine whether a seasonal variation exists in the occurrence of delirium events in-hospital patients. Methods The study included all admissions to the Medical Units of the Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, between January 2002 to December 2010. On the basis of date admission, cases have been analysed for seasonal variation (4 three-month intervals by seasons) by means of conventional statistics. Moreover, cases categorized into 12 one-month intervals were also analyzed by means of a validated chronobiologic inferential method (single cosinor) to search for cyclic variability. Results During the analyzed period, the hospital database contained 74,379 records referring to 42,625 subjects (52.7% females). Delirium diagnoses were 1,300 (1.7% of total sample), 668 of whom in females (51,4%), and 632 in males (48,6%). Events of delirium were more frequent in winter and autumn (26.6% and 26.5%, respectively) than in spring (23.5%) and summer (23.4%). Chronobiological analysis yielded a significant peak of delirium events in January, when considering both the total raw number of cases or the percent of admissions. Conclusions The study seems to indicate in patients hospitalized in Medical Units, a higher rate of occurrence of delirium in autumn-winter, similar to that reported for acute medical diseases. The role of possible underlying favoring or triggering factors deserves further research.
2013
Gallerani, M.; Manfredini, Roberto
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/1684568
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