Incidence of ICU delirium

Method

New-onset delirium during intensive care admission, diagnosed by a bedside screening instrument (CAM-ICU, ICDSC or equivalent) applied on a stated schedule. Screening tool and screening frequency recorded on the edge -- neither is held constant across the pooled literature.

The method is part of the endpoint identity. Studies measuring the same quantity by a different method are held as separate endpoints.

Notes

Will be confused with postoperative delirium on a general ward. The populations differ in the way that matters: this one is ventilated and sedated, and sedation depth confounds the screening instrument itself, so a compound that alters sedation requirement changes the measured rate without changing brain state. Screening frequency also drives ascertainment -- twice-daily screening finds more cases than daily, independent of any treatment effect.