# Pharmacological Management of Delirium in Older Adults in the Emergency Department: Clinical Outcomes

## TL;DR

This study examines how delirium in older adults is treated with medications in emergency departments and how these treatments relate to hospital admissions.

## Contribution

The study identifies real-world pharmacological treatment patterns for delirium in older ED patients and their link to hospitalization.

## Key findings

- Antipsychotic, analgesic, and benzodiazepine use was associated with hospitalization.
- Absence of an underlying cause was a protective factor against hospitalization.
- A significant logistic regression model was developed to analyze these associations.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Delirium is frequent and serious in older adults attending the emergency department (ED), but evidence on its pharmacological management in this setting is limited. This study aimed to quantify the pharmacological treatment of delirium in older adults in the ED and examine its association with subsequent hospital admission. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and June 2022 in a Spanish ED. The sample included 153 adults aged 65 years or older with clinician-diagnosed delirium. Clinical, triage, and medication data were obtained from electronic medical records, and associations with hospital admission were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Ninety-one participants (59.5%) were hospitalised. Antipsychotic, analgesic, and benzodiazepine use was associated with hospitalisation. Absence of an underlying cause was a protective factor. The logistic regression model was significant. Conclusions: By identifying the most frequently administered pharmacological treatments for delirium in older adults in the ED and describing their association with hospitalisation, this study provides key insights into real-world clinical practice patterns in this setting.