The frequency and quality of delirium documentation in discharge summaries

BMC Geriatrics

Table 4 Variables affecting the documentation of “delirium” specifically in the discharge summary

Variable	Univariate odds ratio (95 % CI)
Admitted to surgical service	2.94 (1.29–6.70)
Male sex^a	1.21 (0.55–2.63)
Formal diagnosis of delirium made^b	2.27 (0.14–37.46)
No history of dementia	0.96 (0.39–2.36)
Presence of delirium symptoms prior to admission	0.33 (0.15–0.73)
Delirium as the reason for admission to hospital	0.41 (0.18–0.93)
Delirium Type
Hypoactive delirium	0.71 (0.29–1.78)
Hyperactive delirium	0.90 (0.34–2.40)
Mixed	Reference level
CCI, per 1-point increase	0.89 (0.74–1.08)
Structured discharge summary^{a c}	0.55 (0.18–1.70)
LOS, per day	1.03 (0.999–1.06)
Duration of delirium^d	0.996 (0.98–1.01)
Discharge summary author^e
Early trainee	0.73 (0.29–1.85)
Allied Health	4.62 (0.93–22.89)
Staff	0.65 (0.21–2.04)
Senior Resident	Reference level

CCI Charlson Comorbidity Index, LOS length of stay
^aVariable identified previously to affect the rate of delirium documentation in discharge summaries [12, 27]. All other variables were selected based on consensus between researchers
^bDiagnosis made by any involved physician using specifically the term “delirium”
^cDefined as having standardized discharge summary headings (e.g. Chief complaint, HPI, Medications…etc)
^dDefined as proportion of hospital stay
^eEarly trainee = medical students, Year One residents; Senior trainees = Year Two and higher residents, fellows; Allied health = physician assistants, nurse practitioners.

ISSN: 1471-2318