Incidence of postoperative delirium

Method

New-onset delirium during the postoperative period in adult surgical patients, diagnosed by a validated assessment (Confusion Assessment Method, DSM criteria or equivalent). Assessment window in days recorded on the edge.

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 delirium screened during intensive care admission. The two literatures actively disagree -- PMID 41702325 found a significant reduction with melatonin where PMID 41540856 did not -- so a pooled estimate across both describes neither population. Where surgical patients are recovered in critical care the two definitions overlap in practice; record which criterion the paper applied rather than inferring it from the care setting.