Postoperative Cardiovascular Surgery Delirium

Purpose The aims of this study were to examine interrater agreement of delirium between clinical nurses and a clinical nurse specialist, determine delirium subtype prevalence, and examine associated patient, procedure, and hospital factors. Design A descriptive cross-sectional design and a convenience sample of nurses and patients on progressive care units were used in this study. Methods Clinical nurse specialist data were collected on a case report form, and clinician and patient data were obtained from electronic databases. Interrater agreement of delirium prevalence was assessed by κ statistic, and logistic regression models were used to determine patient factors associated with delirium. Results Of 216 patients, 23 had delirium; clinical nurses identified fewer cases than the clinical nurse specialist: 1.8% versus 10.7%; κ agreement, 0.27 (0.06, 0.49). By delirium subtype, hypoactive delirium was more frequent (n = 10). Factors associated with delirium were history of cerebrovascular disease (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.8 [1.01–7.7]; P = .044), history of mitral valve disease (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.31 [0.09–0.90]; P = .041), and longer perfusion time (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.7 [1.1–2.7]; P = .016). One factor was associated with hypoactive delirium, longer perfusion time (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.2 [1.3–4.2]; P = .008). Conclusions Because clinician–clinical nurse specialist delirium agreement was low and hypoactive delirium was common, clinical interventions are needed.