CLINICAL MEDICINE

Detailed explanation-1: -Acute confusional state/delirium is a frequent cause of hospital admission, in the elderly. It is characterized by an acute fluctuating impairment of cognitive functions and inattention.

Detailed explanation-2: -Delirium is an acute confusional state characterized by an alteration of consciousness with reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention. This results in a cognitive or perceptual disturbance that is not better accounted for by a preexisting, established, or evolving dementia.

Detailed explanation-3: -Among elderly patients, dementia is the most prominent risk factor, being present in up to two-thirds of all cases of delirium.

Detailed explanation-4: -Delirium is different from dementia. But they have similar symptoms, such as confusion, agitation and delusions. If a person has these symptoms, it can be hard for healthcare professionals who don’t know them to tell whether delirium or dementia is the cause.