Treatment of delirium in intensive care patients with sepsis using daily intravenous infusions with omega-3 fatty acids

BACKGROUND: The development of delirium is closely linked to inflammatory processes. Omega-3 fatty acids can modulate the immune response and may contribute to reducing the incidence of sepsis-associated delirium (SAD). AIMS: To investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on delirium in patients with sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a single-center clinical trial, 220 intensive care patients diagnosed with sepsis were randomly assigned to receive daily intravenous infusions of either an omega-3 fish oil emulsion or a placebo. Delirium was assessed twice daily using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) and the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). The primary outcome was the duration of delirium during the first 10 days of admission. Secondary outcomes included the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and mortality. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the omega-3 group exhibited significantly fewer days with delirium episodes (p = 0.010), shorter ICU stays (p = 0.008), and fewer mechanical ventilation days (p = 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Omega-3 fatty acids may effectively reduce the risk of delirium in sepsis patients, highlighting their potential as a therapeutic intervention in this population.