N Z Med J. 2026 Mar 27;139(1632):92-100. doi: 10.26635/6965.7147.
ABSTRACT
AIM: Our aim was to determine the incidence of delirium in a tertiary intensive care unit (ICU) in Auckland, New Zealand compared to other Australasian ICUs. To determine the incidence of delirium among different ethnicities and identify risk factors and outcomes of patients experiencing delirium.
METHODS: The design was a retrospective observational study. The setting was a single-centre, 24 bed, tertiary ICU in Auckland, New Zealand. The participants were two hundred and twenty-two patients admitted to the ICU over 10 months in 2019. The main outcome measures were incidence of delirium, identified using the Confusion Assessment Method – ICU (CAM-ICU) screening, antipsychotic prescription, 12-month mortality, and ICU discharge disposition.
RESULTS: Fifty of the 222 (23%) patients had delirium. There was no association between the incidence of delirium and ethnicity (p=0.39). The risk of delirium increased with ICU duration of stay (odds ratio [OR]: 1.003, 95% CI, 1.001-1.005, p=0.004), days on vasopressors (p<0.001) and days on mechanical ventilation (p<0.001). Thirty-three of the 50 (66%) patients received at least one antipsychotic medication. Twelve-month mortality was not associated with delirium (OR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.73-1.22, p=0.81). Delirium was not associated with ICU discharge disposition (p=0.20).
CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of delirium in this single-centre, tertiary Auckland ICU was comparable to other Australasian ICUs. There was no difference in the incidence of delirium between different ethnicities. Positive associations to delirium included length of stay in ICU, number of days on vasopressors and duration of mechanical ventilation. Delirium was not associated with an increased risk of 12-month mortality and was not associated with ICU discharge disposition.
PMID:41886687 | DOI:10.26635/6965.7147
