Background: Delirium is a common and serious problem for older people. It is a form of confusion which starts suddenly. Around one in four older people who go to hospital as an emergency are affected. Illness, medicines, and surgery can all cause delirium. It is more common in people with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) and in people who are frail.
Approach: We will look at links between delirium, MLTCs, and being frail. We will study information for thousands of patients admitted to hospital with a hip fracture or an emergency medical problem. This information is collected in health records from GPs and hospitals. Information will not identify people and will be stored securely.
Impact: We are aiming to find out why some people have delirium when they come to hospital, and why some have more problems after being in hospital with delirium. Findings could help to understand the causes of delirium. This study may allow healthcare practitioners to spot the condition earlier and it may help to reduce the bad consequences following a hospital admission with delirium.
