Risk for acute confusion in sensory-impaired, rural, long-term-care elders

Clin Nurs Res. 2003 Nov;12(4):340-55. doi: 10.1177/1054773803253917.

Abstract

Acute confusion is a common geriatric syndrome in long-term care (LTC) elders with prevalence rates of 10% to 39%. Sensory impairment, specifically vision and hearing impairment, is even more common in LTC, with prevalence rates of 40% to 90%. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk relationship between sensory impairment and the development of acute confusion in LTC elders. Each resident (N = 114) underwent sensory screening and then was followed for 28 days to monitor for the onset of acute confusion. Twenty residents (17.5%) developed acute confusion, 60 residents (52.6%) were found to be visually impaired, 49 (44.1%) were hearing impaired, and 28 (24.6%) were found to be dually impaired. Significant relationships between vision impairment, odds ratio (OR) = 3.67, confidence interval (CI) (1.13, 11.92), and dual sensory impairment, OR = 2.88, CI (1.04, 8.26), with the development of acute confusion were identified.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged / psychology*
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Confusion / epidemiology
  • Confusion / etiology*
  • Confusion / psychology
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Hearing Disorders / complications*
  • Hearing Disorders / diagnosis
  • Hearing Disorders / epidemiology
  • Homes for the Aged
  • Humans
  • Iowa / epidemiology
  • Long-Term Care* / psychology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Nursing Homes
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Population*
  • Vision Disorders / complications*
  • Vision Disorders / diagnosis
  • Vision Disorders / epidemiology