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50/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 50 out of 100. Clinical safety

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Delirium is a common and serious clinical condition that is associated with several adverse, and sometimes permanent outcomes. Hypoactive delirium occurs more frequently than hyperactive or mixed delirium and is associated with worse outcomes, particularly among older people, and is responsible for the high rates of morbidity and mortality among hospitalised patients (Falk et al. 2023; Hosker and Ward 2017). Affecting those with underlying medical conditions or undergoing surgery or with high frailty, hypoactive delirium can result in distress, longer hospital stays, higher rates of hospital readmission, and increased vulnerability to complications (Bianchi, Harris, and Fitzpatrick 2024; Falk et al. 2023). In post-operative patients, delirium is linked to a higher risk of death (Falk et al. 2023). Hypoactive delirium not only robs affected people of their energy and vitality, but also their connection to the world around them because it significantly disrupts a person's cognitive and emotional connections, leading to isolation and disorientation. In this commentary, we discuss hypoactive delirium and the need for the multidisciplinary team to work authentically, respectfully and with genuine inclusion with families and significant others to identify and care for people affected by hypoactive delirium. Recognising hypoactive delirium for what it is and responding promptly is essential to supporting overall recovery. The literature that exists reveals the complexity and difficulty associated with hypoactive delirium. Evidence suggests that there is considerable inconsistency in how delirium is identified and addressed by health professionals, particularly among older adults (Bianchi, Harris, and Fitzpatrick 2024).

Key findings

Delirium is a common and serious clinical condition that is associated with several adverse, and sometimes permanent outcomes.
Hypoactive delirium occurs more frequently than hyperactive or mixed delirium and is associated with worse outcomes, particularly among older people, and is responsible for the high rates of morbidity and mortality among hospitalised patients (Falk et al. 2023; Hosker and Ward 2017).
Affecting those with underlying medical conditions or undergoing surgery or with high frailty, hypoactive delirium can result in distress, longer hospital stays, higher rates of hospital readmission, and increased vulnerability to complications (Bianchi, Harris, and Fitzpatrick 2024; Falk et al. 2023).
In post-operative patients, delirium is linked to a higher risk of death (Falk et al. 2023).
Hypoactive delirium not only robs affected people of their energy and vitality, but also their connection to the world around them because it significantly disrupts a person's cognitive and emotional connections, leading to isolation and disorientation.

Why it matters

This commentary states that hypoactive delirium is common, often missed, and linked to worse outcomes including death in hospital patients. It calls for families and nurses to work together to recognise and care for it, but reports no treatment or cure for Alzheimer's disease.

Study details

Study designlongitudinal study
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 50/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Advanced Nursing)
Journal's citation record	3 / 4	Journal of Advanced Nursing: journal h-index 262 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	7 / 12	A longitudinal study following the same 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	0 / 4	Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	0 / 3	Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	2 / 7	Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	1 / 5	2.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 4.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	3 / 4	Last-listed author Michelle L. Cleary: h-index 57 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	The University of Sydney: institution h-index 1,466 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39878087)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	50 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

Read the original

Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).

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

Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.

APA 7th

Jackson, D. W., Le Lagadec, D., & Cleary, M. L. (2025). Hypoactive Delirium: The Critical Need for Collaboration Between Families and Nurses in Prevention, Recognition and Care. Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16778

Vancouver

Jackson DW, Le Lagadec D, Cleary ML. Hypoactive Delirium: The Critical Need for Collaboration Between Families and Nurses in Prevention, Recognition and Care. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2025. doi:10.1111/jan.16778. PMID: 39878087.

BibTeX

@article{jackson2025-39878087,
  author  = {Jackson, Debra W. and Le Lagadec, Danielle and Cleary, Michelle L.},
  title   = {{Hypoactive Delirium: The Critical Need for Collaboration Between Families and Nurses in Prevention, Recognition and Care}},
  journal = {Journal of Advanced Nursing},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1111/jan.16778},
  pmid    = {39878087},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16778}
}

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