Delirium
Delirium information for health professionals
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
Delirium | Mate kuawa (Frailty care guides 2023)
By district
Find clinical guidelines in your district.
Lakes
Lakes
Delirium is a disturbance of attention or awareness accompanied by a change in baseline cognition not caused by a pre-existing or evolving neurocognitive disorder.
A patient with delirium has a reduced ability to direct, focus, sustain, and shift attention.
Approximately 40% of people in hospital will develop delirium.
Most at risk are older people — especially those with dementia and those who are acutely unwell and receiving intensive medical treatment.
People who develop delirium will:
- need to stay longer in hospital
- have more hospital acquired complications such as falls, infections and pressure injuries
- be at risk of not returning to their pre-delirium level of function
- be more likely to be admitted to long term care
- be more likely to die.
Information and resources related to delirium
Delirium: A Carer's Handbook [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Inpatient delirium pathway [PDF, 28 KB]