Hospital delirium: what does it mean?

Hospital delirium means delirium that is present during a hospital stay. It includes delirium that is already present when someone is admitted, and delirium that develops during the stay. The word “hospital” describes the setting. It does not tell you what caused the delirium. Hospital-acquired delirium is a more specific term for delirium that first develops after admission.

Where has the term been used?

The phrase has been used in US health articles for patients and families. In 2011, Carolyn Schatz wrote The dangers of hospital delirium in older people for the Harvard Health blog. US geriatrician Dr Leslie Kernisan wrote Hospital Delirium: What to know & do, published on her Geriatrics for Caregivers blog in April 2014.

Delirium is a sudden change in how a person thinks and responds. Someone may become confused, unusually sleepy or agitated. It needs urgent medical assessment to find and treat the causes. If you notice new or worsening problems with someone’s thinking or alertness in hospital, tell a nurse or doctor straight away.

Read more about what delirium is, how families can help and recovery after delirium.