Delirium em pacientes hospitalizados: desafios no reconhecimento precoce e estratégias de prevenção na Clínica Médica.

Delirium is an acute and fluctuating neuropsychiatric syndrome whose recognition during hospitalization poses a challenge for internal medicine teams. This study aimed to examine barriers to early identification and strategies for preventing delirium in hospitalized patients. A narrative literature review was conducted, using a focused selection of diagnostic accuracy studies, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines, supplemented by bibliographic verification in November 2026. Evidence indicates that the performance of the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and the 4 'A's Test (4AT) varies across populations and administration conditions; clinical assessment remains essential for diagnosis. Multicomponent non-pharmacological interventions show favorable results in reducing delirium incidence, although uncertainty remains regarding individual components and secondary outcomes. Timely recognition and prevention therefore require contextualized assessment and coordinated multidisciplinary care. The narrative design, non-exhaustive selection, and absence of quantitative records from the initial searches limit the reproducibility of the conclusions.