What is the Delirium Bibliography? The searchable Delirium Bibliography page is one of our most popular features, allowing you to quickly gain access to the literature on delirium and acute care of older persons. It is primarily intended for clinicians and researchers interested in exploring these topics. The NIDUS team keeps it updated for you on a monthly basis!
How to Search for Articles: Search by author, title, year, and/or keywords. Each article is indexed by keywords taken from MEDLINE and other relevant databases. Click on the title of the article to read the abstract, journal, etc.
Reference Information
- Title
- The 4 'A's test for detecting delirium in acute medical patients: a diagnostic accuracy study
- Authors
- MacLullich, A. M. Shenkin, S. D. Goodacre, S. Godfrey, M. Hanley, J. Stiobhairt, A. Lavender, E. Boyd, J. Stephen, J. Weir, C. MacRaild, A. Steven, J. Black, P. Diernberger, K. Hall, P. Tieges, Z. Fox, C. Anand, A. Young, J. Siddiqi, N. Gray, A.
- Year
- 2019
- Journal
- Health Technol Assess
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: Delirium is a common and serious neuropsychiatric syndrome, usually triggered by illness or drugs. It remains underdetected. One reason for this is a lack of brief, pragmatic assessment tools. The 4 ‘A’s test (Arousal, Attention, Abbreviated Mental Test – 4, Acute change) (4AT) is a screening tool designed for routine use. This project evaluated its usability, diagnostic accuracy and cost. METHODS: Phase 1 – the usability of the 4AT in routine practice was measured with two surveys and two qualitative studies of health-care professionals, and a review of current clinical use of the 4AT as well as its presence in guidelines and reports. Phase 2 – the 4AT’s diagnostic accuracy was assessed in newly admitted acute medical patients aged >/= 70 years. Its performance was compared with that of the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM; a longer screening tool). The performance of individual 4AT test items was related to cognitive status, length of stay, new institutionalisation, mortality at 12 weeks and outcomes. The method used was a prospective, double-blind diagnostic test accuracy study in emergency departments or in acute general medical wards in three UK sites. Each patient underwent a reference standard delirium assessment and was also randomised to receive an assessment with either the 4AT (n = 421) or the CAM (n = 420). A health economics analysis was also conducted. RESULTS: Phase 1 found evidence that delirium awareness is increasing, but also that there is a need for education on delirium in general and on the 4AT in particular. Most users reported that the 4AT was useful, and it was in widespread use both in the UK and beyond. No changes to the 4AT were considered necessary. Phase 2 involved 785 individuals who had data for analysis; their mean age was 81.4 (standard deviation 6.4) years, 45% were male, 99% were white and 9% had a known dementia diagnosis. The 4AT (n = 392) had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.90. A positive 4AT score (> 3) had a specificity of 95% [95% confidence interval (CI) 92% to 97%] and a sensitivity of 76% (95% CI 61% to 87%) for reference standard delirium. The CAM (n = 382) had a specificity of 100% (95% CI 98% to 100%) and a sensitivity of 40% (95% CI 26% to 57%) in the subset of participants whom it was possible to assess using this. Patients with positive 4AT scores had longer lengths of stay (median 5 days, interquartile range 2.0-14.0 days) than did those with negative 4AT scores (median 2 days, interquartile range 1.0-6.0 days), and they had a higher 12-week mortality rate (16.1% and 9.2%, respectively). The estimated 12-week costs of an initial inpatient stay for patients with delirium were more than double the costs of an inpatient stay for patients without delirium (e.g. in Scotland, pound7559, 95% CI pound7362 to pound7755, vs. pound4215, 95% CI pound4175 to pound4254). The estimated cost of false-positive cases was pound4653, of false-negative cases was pound8956, and of a missed diagnosis was pound2067. LIMITATIONS: Patients were aged >/= 70 years and were assessed soon after they were admitted, limiting generalisability. The treatment of patients in accordance with reference standard diagnosis limited the ability to assess comparative cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the use of the 4AT as a rapid delirium assessment instrument. The 4AT has acceptable diagnostic accuracy for acute older patients aged > 70 years. FUTURE WORK: Further research should address the real-world implementation of delirium assessment. The 4AT should be tested in other populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN53388093. FUNDING: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 40. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. The funder specified that any new delirium assessment tool should be compared against the CAM, but had no other role in the study design or conduct of the study.
Delirium is the sudden onset of confusion that can happen when someone is unwell. It is common in older people who go into hospital, and it is upsetting for both the patients and their families. Delirium is important to diagnose, because people with delirium do less well than those without, and it is often treatable. The ideal way to diagnose delirium is with a full assessment by a specialist, but this is expensive and time-consuming. We therefore developed a short test called the 4 ‘A’s Test (4AT). The four ‘A’s stand for Arousal, Attention, Abbreviated Mental Test – 4, and Acute change. First, we interviewed hospital staff about delirium and the 4AT. We found that the 4AT was already widely used and that people found it easy to use. We then tested how the 4AT performed in practice. A total of 785 recently admitted patients aged >/= 70 years participated, of whom around one in eight had delirium. A researcher carried out the full standard delirium assessment on each patient and then a different researcher carried out the 4AT. A normal 4AT score reliably ruled out delirium. An abnormal score was also reasonably effective in detecting delirium, but staff still needed to follow up such patients with a full assessment. People with higher 4AT scores stayed in hospital longer and were more likely to die, and their treatment was more expensive. We conclude that the 4AT is a useful test to rule out delirium or to see if more detailed testing is required. It could help treat patients correctly and quickly. This would save money and improve outcomes.
eng
- PMID
- Keywords
4at
Acute hospitals
Cam
Delirium
Dementia
Diagnostic accuracy
- Page(s)
- 194
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 40
Title | Authors | Journal | Year | Keywords |
---|---|---|---|---|
Use of the brief Confusion Assessment Method in a veteran palliative care population: A pilot validation study. | Wilson, J. E. Boehm, L. Samuels, L. R. Unger, D. Leonard, M. Roumie, C. Ely, E. W. Dittus, R. S. Misra, S. Han, J. H. | Palliat Support Care | 2019 |
cognition |
Relative cerebral hyperperfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with risk for postoperative delirium: a cross-sectional cohort study. | Thudium, M. Ellerkmann, R. K. Heinze, I. Hilbert, T. | BMC Anesthesiology | 2019 |
Cardiac surgery |
Prediction of postoperative delirium by comprehensive geriatric assessment among elderly patients with hip fracture. | Tao, L. Xiaodong, X. Qiang, M. Jiao, L. Xu, Z. | Ir J Med Sci | 2019 |
Comprehensive geriatric assessment |
The Overlap Between Falls and Delirium in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Systematic Review. | Sillner, A. Y. Holle, C. L. Rudolph, J. L. | Clin Geriatr Med | 2019 |
Delirium |
Depth of sedation as an interventional target to reduce postoperative delirium: mortality and functional outcomes of the Strategy to Reduce the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients randomised clinical trial. | Sieber, F. Neufeld, K. J. Gottschalk, A. Bigelow, G. E. Oh, E. S. Rosenberg, P. B. Mears, S. C. Stewart, K. J. Ouanes, J. P. P. Jaberi, M. Hasenboehler, E. A. Wang, N. Y. | British Journal of Anaesthesia | 2019 |
NCT00590707 |
Delirium Incidence and Functional Outcomes After Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement. | Shi, S. M. Sung, M. Afilalo, J. Lipsitz, L. A. Kim, C. A. Popma, J. J. Khabbaz, K. R. Laham, R. J. Guibone, K. Lee, J. Marcantonio, E. R. Kim, D. H. | J Am Geriatr Soc | 2019 |
aortic valve replacement |
Effect of perioperative administration of dexmedetomidine on delirium after cardiac surgery in elderly patients: a double-blinded, multi-center, randomized study. | Shi, C. Jin, J. Qiao, L. Li, T. Ma, J. Ma, Z. | Clin Interv Aging | 2019 |
anesthesia |
Perspectives on the Delirium Experience and Its Burden: Common Themes Among Older Patients, Their Family Caregivers, and Nurses. | Schmitt, E. M. Gallagher, J. Albuquerque, A. Tabloski, P. Lee, H. J. Gleason, L. Weiner, L. S. Marcantonio, E. R. Jones, R. N. Inouye, S. K. Schulman-Green, D. | Gerontologist | 2019 |
*Burden |
Association of Persistent Intense Thirst With Delirium Among Critically Ill Patients: A Cross-sectional Study. | Sato, K. Okajima, M. Taniguchi, T. | J Pain Symptom Manage | 2019 |
Thirst |
Role of Epileptic Activity in Older Adults With Delirium, a Prospective Continuous EEG Study. | Sambin, S. Gaspard, N. Legros, B. Depondt, C. De Breucker, S. Naeije, G. | Front Neurol | 2019 |
Ncse |
Surgical delay is a risk factor of delirium in hip fracture patients with mild–moderate cognitive impairment. | Pioli, G. Bendini, C. Giusti, A. Pignedoli, P. Cappa, M. Iotti, E. Ferri, M. A. Bergonzini, E. Sabetta, E. | Aging Clinical and Experimental Research | 2019 |
age |
Cerebrospinal Fluid Spermidine, Glutamine and Putrescine Predict Postoperative Delirium Following Elective Orthopaedic Surgery. | Pan, X. Cunningham, E. L. Passmore, A. P. McGuinness, B. McAuley, D. F. Beverland, D. O'Brien, S. Mawhinney, T. Schott, J. M. Zetterberg, H. Green, B. D. | Sci Rep | 2019 | |
The impact of the Hospital Elder Life Program on the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria: An unexpected benefit. | O'Donnell, A. J. Walsh, T. L. Tang, A. Weinberg, L. | Geriatr Nurs | 2019 |
Asymptomatic bacteriuria |
Continuous EEG Monitoring in a Consecutive Patient Cohort with Sepsis and Delirium. | Nielsen, R. M. Urdanibia-Centelles, O. Vedel-Larsen, E. Thomsen, K. J. Moller, K. Olsen, K. S. Lauritsen, A. O. Eddelien, H. S. Lauritzen, M. Benedek, K. | Neurocrit Care | 2019 |
Brain diseases |
Delirium risk factors and associated outcomes in a neurosurgical cohort: a case-control study. | Morshed, R. A. Young, J. S. Safaee, M. Sankaran, S. Berger, M. S. McDermott, M. W. Hervey-Jumper, S. L. | World Neurosurg | 2019 |
Delirium |
Biomarker Predictors of Delirium in Acutely Ill Patients: A Systematic Review. | Michels, M. Michelon, C. Damasio, D. Vitali, A. M. Ritter, C. Dal-Pizzol, F. | J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol | 2019 |
Cam |
Predicting postoperative delirium severity in older adults: The role of surgical risk and executive function. | Lindroth, H. Bratzke, L. Twadell, S. Rowley, P. Kildow, J. Danner, M. Turner, L. Hernandez, B. Brown, R. Sanders, R. D. | Int J Geriatr Psychiatry | 2019 |
aging |
Subsyndromal delirium is associated with poor functional outcome after ischaemic stroke. | Klimiec-Moskal, E. Lis, A. Pera, J. Slowik, A. Dziedzic, T. | European Journal of Neurology | 2019 |
aged |
SF-36 scores predict postoperative delirium after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. | Kin, K. Yasuhara, T. Tomita, Y. Umakoshi, M. Morimoto, J. Date, I. | J Neurosurg Spine | 2019 |
CCI = Charlson Comorbidity Index |
Effects of massage on outcomes of adult intensive care unit patients: a systematic review. | Jagan, S. Park, T. Papathanassoglou, E. | Nurs Crit Care | 2019 |
Complementary and alternative therapies |
Perioperative Dexmedetomidine Reduces Delirium in Elderly Patients after Lung Cancer Surgery. | Huyan, T. Hu, X. Peng, H. Zhu, Z. Li, Q. Zhang, W. | Psychiatr Danub | 2019 | |
The Oslo Study of Clonidine in Elderly Patients with Delirium; LUCID: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. | Hov, K. R. Neerland, B. E. Undseth, O. Bruun Bratholm Wyller, V. MacLullich, A. M. J. Qvigstad, E. Skovlund, E. Wyller, T. B. | Int J Geriatr Psychiatry | 2019 |
Delirium treatment |
Delirium and Alzheimer disease: A proposed model for shared pathophysiology. | Fong, T. G. Vasunilashorn, S. M. Libermann, T. Marcantonio, E. R. Inouye, S. K. | Int J Geriatr Psychiatry | 2019 |
Alzheimer disease |
Development and validation of a dynamic delirium prediction rule in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units (DYNAMIC-ICU): A prospective cohort study. | Fan, H. Ji, M. Huang, J. Yue, P. Yang, X. Wang, C. Ying, W. | International journal of nursing studies | 2019 |
aged |
Delirium and cognitive impairment among older patients in Norwegian emergency departments. | Evensen, S. Saltvedt, I. Ranhoff, A. H. Myrstad, M. Myrstad, C. Mellingsaeter, M. Wang-Hansen, M. S. Neerland, B. E. | Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen | 2019 | |
Motor activity across delirium motor subtypes in geriatric patients assessed using body-worn sensors: a Norwegian cross-sectional study. | Evensen, S. Bourke, A. K. Lydersen, S. Sletvold, O. Saltvedt, I. Wyller, T. B. Taraldsen, K. | BMJ Open | 2019 |
accelerometer |
Factors Associated With Delirium in Surgical Intensive Care Unit Patients Treated With Supplemental Melatonin: A Case-Cohort Study. | Cusimano, J. M. Welch, S. Perez-Protto, S. Lam, S. | Clin Neuropharmacol | 2019 | |
Intraoperative blood transfusion predicts postoperative delirium among older patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery: A prospective cohort study. | Chou, M. Y. Wang, Y. C. Peng, L. N. Liang, C. K. Chu, C. S. Liao, M. C. Lin, Y. T. Hsu, C. J. Chen, L. K. | Int J Geriatr Psychiatry | 2019 |
aged |
Postoperative delirium in critically ill surgical patients: incidence, risk factors, and predictive scores. | Chaiwat, O. Chanidnuan, M. Pancharoen, W. Vijitmala, K. Danpornprasert, P. Toadithep, P. Thanakiattiwibun, C. | BMC Anesthesiology | 2019 |
Intensive care unit (ICU) |
Differential Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Outcome of Delirium among Ward Compared with ICU Patients. | Canet, E. Amjad, S. Robbins, R. Lewis, J. Matalanis, M. Jones, D. Bellomo, R. | Intern Med J | 2019 |
Agitation |
Vitamin D levels and risk of delirium: A mendelian randomization study in the UK Biobank. | Bowman, K. Jones, L. Pilling, L. C. Delgado, J. Kuchel, G. A. Ferrucci, L. Fortinsky, R. H. Melzer, D. | Neurology | 2019 | |
Single-bed rooms in a geriatric ward prevent delirium in older patients. | Blandfort, S. Gregersen, M. Rahbek, K. Juul, S. Damsgaard, E. M. | Aging Clin Exp Res | 2019 |
Delirium |
Drug Prescription and Delirium in Older Inpatients: Results From the Nationwide Multicenter Italian Delirium Day 2015-2016. | Aloisi, G. Marengoni, A. Morandi, A. Zucchelli, A. Cherubini, A. Mossello, E. Bo, M. Di Santo, S. G. Mazzone, A. Trabucchi, M. Cappa, S. Fimognari, F. L. Incalzi, R. A. Gareri, P. Perticone, F. Campanini, M. Montorsi, M. Latronico, N. Zambon, A. Bellelli, | J Clin Psychiatry | 2019 | |
Patient Safety Incidents Describing Patient Falls in Critical Care in North West England Between 2009 and 2017. | Thomas, A. N. Balmforth, J. E. | J Patient Saf | 2019 | |
Have you SCAND MMe Please? A framework to prevent harm during acute hospitalisation of older persons: A retrospective audit. | Redley, B. Baker, T. | Journal of Clinical Nursing | 2019 |
acute disease |
Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion to Decrease Postoperative Delirium for Spinal Fusion Patients. | Plyler, S. S. Muckler, V. C. Titch, J. F. Gupta, D. K. Rice, A. N. | J Perianesth Nurs | 2019 |
3d-cam |
Nurses' experiences of caring for older patients afflicted by delirium in a neurological department. | Kristiansen, S. Konradsen, H. Beck, M. | Journal of Clinical Nursing | 2019 |
adult |
Association of Delirium Response and Safety of Pharmacological Interventions for the Management and Prevention of Delirium: A Network Meta-analysis. | Wu, Y. C. Tseng, P. T. Tu, Y. K. Hsu, C. Y. Liang, C. S. Yeh, T. C. Chen, T. Y. Chu, C. S. Matsuoka, Y. J. Stubbs, B. Carvalho, A. F. Wada, S. Lin, P. Y. Chen, Y. W. Su, K. P. | JAMA Psychiatry | 2019 | |
Effect of electroencephalography-guided anesthetic administration on postoperative delirium among older adults undergoing major surgery the engages randomized clinical trial. | Wildes, T. S. Mickle, A. M. Abdallah, A. B. Maybrier, H. R. Oberhaus, J. Budelier, T. P. Kronzer, A. McKinnon, S. L. Park, D. Torres, B. A. Graetz, T. J. Emmert, D. A. Palanca, B. J. Goswami, S. Jordan, K. Lin, N. Fritz, B. A. Stevens, T. W. Jacobsohn, E. | JAMA | 2019 |
NCT02241655 |
Perioperative Epidural Use and Risk of Delirium in Surgical Patients: A Secondary Analysis of the PODCAST Trial. | Vlisides, P. E. Thompson, A. Kunkler, B. S. Maybrier, H. R. Avidan, M. S. Mashour, G. A. | Anesth Analg | 2019 | |
Effect of Intravenous Acetaminophen vs Placebo Combined with Propofol or Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Delirium among Older Patients Following Cardiac Surgery: The DEXACET Randomized Clinical Trial. | Subramaniam, B. Shankar, P. Shaefi, S. Mueller, A. O'Gara, B. Banner-Goodspeed, V. Gallagher, J. Gasangwa, D. Patxot, M. Packiasabapathy, S. Mathur, P. Eikermann, M. Talmor, D. Marcantonio, E. R. | JAMA | 2019 |
NCT02546765 |
The use of a screening scale improves the recognition of delirium in older patients after cardiac surgery - a retrospective observational study. | Smulter, N. Claesson Lingehall, H. Gustafson, Y. Olofsson, B. Engstrom, K. G. | J Clin Nurs | 2019 |
Assessments scales |
Incidence and predictors of postoperative delirium in the older acute care surgery population: a prospective study. | Saravana-Bawan, B. Warkentin, L. M. Rucker, D. Carr, F. Churchill, T. A. Khadaroo, R. G. | Canadian Journal of Surgery | 2019 |
aged |
Association of Duration of Surgery With Postoperative Delirium Among Patients Receiving Hip Fracture Repair. | Ravi, B. Pincus, D. Choi, S. Jenkinson, R. Wasserstein, D. N. Redelmeier, D. A. | JAMA Netw Open | 2019 | |
Depression Predicts Delirium After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Independent of Cognitive Impairment and Cerebrovascular Disease: An Analysis of the Neuropsychiatric Outcomes After Heart Surgery Study. | Oldham, M. A. Hawkins, K. A. Lin, I. H. Deng, Y. Hao, Q. Scoutt, L. M. Yuh, D. D. Lee, H. B. | American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry | 2019 |
aged |
Accuracy of the Delirium Observational Screening Scale (DOS) as a screening tool for delirium in patients with advanced cancer. | Neefjes, E. C. W. van der Vorst, Mjdl Boddaert, M. S. A. Verdegaal, Batt Beeker, A. Teunissen, S. C. C. Beekman, A. T. F. Zuurmond, W. W. A. Berkhof, J. Verheul, H. M. W. | BMC Cancer | 2019 |
Delirium |
The impact of intravenous isotonic and hypotonic maintenance fluid on the risk of delirium in adult postoperative patients: retrospective before-after observational study. | Nagae, M. Egi, M. Furushima, N. Okada, M. Makino, S. Mizobuchi, S. | J Anesth | 2019 |
Delirium |
Association between delirium, adverse clinical events and functional outcomes in older patients admitted to rehabilitation settings after a hip fracture: A multicenter retrospective cohort study. | Morandi, A. Mazzone, A. Bernardini, B. Suardi, T. Prina, R. Pozzi, C. Gentile, S. Trabucchi, M. Bellelli, G. | Geriatrics & Gerontology International | 2019 |
aged |
Handover of anesthesia care is associated with an increased risk of delirium in elderly after major noncardiac surgery: results of a secondary analysis. | Liu, G. Y. Su, X. Meng, Z. T. Cui, F. Li, H. L. Zhu, S. N. Wang, D. X. | J Anesth | 2019 |
Delirium |
Undiagnosed delirium is frequent and difficult to predict: Results from a prevalence survey of a tertiary hospital. | Lange, P. W. Lamanna, M. Watson, R. Maier, A. B. | J Clin Nurs | 2019 |
Undiagnosed delirium |