Incidence and risk factors of PostopeRativE delirium in intensive care unit patients: A study protocol for the PREDICt study

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim</jats:title><jats:p>The aims of this study are: (a) to determine the incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) among surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients in China and identify risk factors, especially, which are modifiable and have value for developing a prediction model; (b) to develop and validate a prediction model of delirium to recognize high‐risk patients in surgical ICUs; (c) to investigate the short‐ and long‐term outcomes of delirious patients and identify the predictors of patient outcomes.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design</jats:title><jats:p>A single‐centre prospective cohort study.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Patients will be enrolled from three surgical ICUs in a tertiary teaching hospital. Delirium assessment and perioperative data will be collected throughout the hospitalization. Delirious patients will be followed up for 2 years. The study was approved by the ethics committee in May 2018 and was funded by the clinical research grant from Zhongshan hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion</jats:title><jats:p>Developing POD can be a burden to patients both for the short‐ and long‐term period. Due to the lack of effective treatments for POD, prevention remains the best strategy. This study will provide an effective tool for early screening of high‐risk patients of POD and provide a better understanding of the aetiology and outcome of delirium.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Impact</jats:title><jats:p>In clinical practice, a prediction model will offer an effective tool for ICU nurses to assess high‐risk patients, which can support them to implement preventive strategies at the early stages to targeted patients. The follow‐up results will help us better understand the impact of delirium on patients’ long‐term outcome.</jats:p></jats:sec>