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BACKGROUND: Patients who experience a fragility hip fracture are at high risk for perioperative delirium. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact, from a hospital perspective, of perioperative delirium on the length of the hospital stay and episode-of-care costs for elderly patients who underwent surgical treatment of a fragility hip fracture. METHODS: A total of 242 patients sixty-five years of age or older (mean age, eighty-two years; range, sixty-five to 103 years) who underwent surgical treatment of a fragility hip fracture at a single center between January 2011 and December 2012 were evaluated. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and adverse-events data were extracted and analyzed. The confusion assessment method (CAM) was used prospectively to detect perioperative delirium. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen (48%) of the 242 patients developed perioperative delirium during their stay in the hospital. Compared with patients with no delirium, delirium was associated with a mean incremental total length of hospital stay of 7. 4 days (95% confidence interval CI = 3. 7 to 11. 2 days; p < 0. 001), a mean incremental length of stay following surgery of 7. 4 days (95% CI = 3. 8 to 11. 1 days; p < 0. 001), and a mean incremental episode-of-care cost (in 2012 Canadian dollars) of 8286 (95% CI = 3690 to 12, 881; p < 0. 001). The total incremental episode-of-care cost attributable to delirium over the study period was 961, 131 in 2012 Canadian dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 50% of elderly patients who underwent surgery for a fragility hip fracture developed perioperative delirium, which was associated with a significant incremental in-hospital length of stay and significant incremental episode-of-care costs. These findings highlight the importance of implementing cost-effective interventions to reduce the prevalence of perioperative delirium in elderly patients with a low-energy hip fracture.
Zywiel et al. (Wed,) studied this question.