Comparing Two Tools for Assessing Delirium in ICU Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Bart Van Rompaey, Marieke J Schuurmans, Lillie M Shortridge-Baggett, Steven Truijen, Monique Elseviers, Leo Bossaert
Primary Institution: University of Antwerp
Hypothesis
The NEECHAM scale is more effective than the CAM-ICU for assessing delirium in non-intubated ICU patients.
Conclusion
The NEECHAM scale identified most cases of delirium detected by the CAM-ICU and additional confused patients.
Supporting Evidence
- The CAM-ICU showed a 19.8% incidence of delirium.
- The NEECHAM scale detected 20.3% delirious, 24.4% confused, 29.7% at risk, and 25.6% normal patients.
- The sensitivity of the NEECHAM scale was 87% and specificity was 95%.
- The positive predictive value was 79% and negative predictive value was 97%.
Takeaway
This study looked at two ways to check if patients in the ICU are confused. One way found a little more confusion than the other, but both were good at spotting problems.
Methodology
172 non-intubated patients were assessed using both the NEECHAM scale and CAM-ICU after at least 24 hours in the ICU.
Potential Biases
The simultaneous assessment of both scales could have created an interscale bias.
Limitations
The study was limited by the size of the population in different categories of admittance and the lack of assessments for intubated patients.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 60 years, 59% were male, and included patients from cardiac surgery, non-cardiac surgery, and internal medicine.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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