Meta-analysis reveals high abnormal CT rates in delirious patients, suggesting routine imaging in the ED.
Key Points
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the abnormal rate of brain CT in emergency department patients with delirium, unconsciousness, or fluctuating mental states.
Included 13 observational studies involving 8316 emergency department patients.
Assessed quality using the revised Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).
Summarized prevalence rates using a random-effects model.
Overall quality was medium to high (NOS score 6-8).
Abnormal head CT incidence in delirious patients was 28% (95% CI: 18%-38%).
Intracranial hemorrhage prevalence was 30% (95% CI: 20%-40%), and cerebral infarction was 35% (95% CI: 19%-52%).