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52/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 52 out of 100. How common it is

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Plain-language summary

The study included 212 patients, with a mean age of 82.27 years. The average hospital stay was 24.01 days, with an overall mortality rate of 20.28% and a delirium prevalence of 47.17%. Delirium was more common in older patients (P=0.0010) and those with longer hospital stays (P=0.0003). A history of dementia (OR=65.83, 95%CI 25.52-162.3, P<0.0001) and depression (OR=9.135, 95%CI 4.605-17.19) significantly increased delirium risk. Delirium was also associated with higher mortality (OR=4.975, 95%CI 2.334-10.27, P<0.0001) and elevated sodium levels (P=0.0011). The findings highlight distinct predisposing (e.g., dementia, depression) and precipitating (e.g., hypernatremia, prolonged hospitalization) factors linked to delirium in elderly COVID-19 inpatients. These insights suggest the need for targeted prevention strategies, including routine screening for cognitive vulnerabilities and early correction of modifiable risk factors, to mitigate the burden of delirium during pandemics and beyond.

What this study adds

Evidence grade: Moderate

This is a follow-up (cohort) study of 212 participants. Among elderly COVID-19 inpatients, delirium was very common and linked to higher mortality, with a history of dementia and depression greatly increasing risk. Reported effect size: 20.28%; 47.17%; OR=65.83.

Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Fraccalini, T., Ricci, V., Pesci, N. R., TAROZZO, B., CARDINALE, L., Maina, G., et al. (2025). Delirium and COVID-19: prevalence, outcomes and associated factors in a cohort of elderly inpatients. Minerva Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.23736/s2724-6612.25.02608-9

Vancouver

Fraccalini T, Ricci V, Pesci NR, TAROZZO B, CARDINALE L, Maina G, et al. Delirium and COVID-19: prevalence, outcomes and associated factors in a cohort of elderly inpatients. Minerva Psychiatry. 2025. doi:10.23736/s2724-6612.25.02608-9.

BibTeX

@article{fraccalini2025-4dc4c33f,
  author  = {Fraccalini, Thomas and Ricci, Valerio and Pesci, Nicola Rizzo and TAROZZO, Beatrice and CARDINALE, Luciano and Maina, Giuseppe and Gioia, Stefania and Minniti, Davide and others},
  title   = {{Delirium and COVID-19: prevalence, outcomes and associated factors in a cohort of elderly inpatients}},
  journal = {Minerva Psychiatry},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.23736/s2724-6612.25.02608-9},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.23736/s2724-6612.25.02608-9}
}

Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.

How to read this study

Design: this is a follow-up (cohort) study. People are observed over time and not assigned to anything, so an association can reflect other differences between groups. Look at how long follow-up lasted, how many dropped out, and whether the authors adjusted for age, education and other health conditions.
Size: the record lists 212 participants. Ask whether that is enough for the question, and who they were.
Effect: the record reports “20.28%; 47.17%; OR=65.83”. A statistically significant result can still be small in daily life.

What the evidence grade means here

This page is graded moderate. alzhub.org assigns the grade automatically from keywords in the abstract, not from reading the paper. Moderate means the abstract mentions a cohort, case-control or longitudinal design. It can add at most 5 of the 100 points in the study score, and it is a label about design, not a verdict on whether the findings are true.

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Key findings

The study included 212 patients, with a mean age of 82.27 years.
The average hospital stay was 24.01 days, with an overall mortality rate of 20.28% and a delirium prevalence of 47.17%.
Delirium was more common in older patients (P=0.0010) and those with longer hospital stays (P=0.0003).
A history of dementia (OR=65.83, 95%CI 25.52-162.3, P<0.0001) and depression (OR=9.135, 95%CI 4.605-17.19) significantly increased delirium risk.
Delirium was also associated with higher mortality (OR=4.975, 95%CI 2.334-10.27, P<0.0001) and elevated sodium levels (P=0.0011).

Why it matters

Among elderly COVID-19 inpatients, delirium was very common and linked to higher mortality, with a history of dementia and depression greatly increasing risk. The findings suggest that routine screening for cognitive vulnerabilities and early correction of modifiable factors could help reduce delirium in pandemics and beyond.

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Study details

Study designcohort study
Participants212
Effect size20.28%; 47.17%; OR=65.83
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 52/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Minerva Psychiatry)
Journal's citation record	0 / 4	Minerva Psychiatry: journal h-index 9 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	7 / 12	A cohort study following people over time
Strength of evidence	3 / 5	Rated “moderate” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	4 / 5	2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	2 / 4	212 participants
Effect reported	3 / 3	Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar)
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomized / blinded	0 / 2	No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	1 / 7	Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	1 / 5	1.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 3.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	1 / 6	Cited by 1 other studies in this library
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	2 / 4	Last-listed author Gianluca Rosso: h-index 30 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	University of Turin: institution h-index 903 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	1 / 2	Not in PubMed, but has a DOI
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	52 / 100	—

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