Delirium prognosis

What is the outlook for people with delirium? Patients can recover completely if the cause of delirium is identified quickly and addressed. Any delay makes it less likely they'll recover quickly and/or fully. Lack of treatment can lead to stupor, coma or even death.

1. How long can you live with delirium?
2. Can delirium be permanent?
3. Is delirium fatal?
4. Do patients with delirium have a higher mortality rate?

How long can you live with delirium?

Delirium can last for a few days, weeks or even months but it may take longer for people with dementia to recover. In hospitals, approximately 20-30% of older people on medical wards will have delirium and up to 50% of people with dementia.

Can delirium be permanent?

Delirium is linked to a faster worsening of a person's mental abilities and function. A person with dementia may have been able do something (for example, dress themselves) before delirium but are no longer able to afterwards. This change can be permanent.

Is delirium fatal?

Because delirium may be caused by a serious disorder (which could be rapidly fatal), doctors try to identify the cause as quickly as possible. Treating the cause, once identified, can often reverse the delirium.

Do patients with delirium have a higher mortality rate?

The results of this study indicate a significantly higher 12-month mortality rate among medical inpatients diagnosed with delirium than for controls without delirium, even after adjustment for confounding by several measures of severity and comorbidity, prior dementia, and other relevant factors.