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Prevalence and Risk Factors for Delirium on Arrival at the Emergency Room by Ambulance
Hideaki Sakuramoto, Jumpei Onuma, Shogo Uno, Mitsuki Ikeda, Saiko Okamoto, Hidehiko Nakano, Hideki Hasimoto, Akira Ouchi. Cureus, 2025-02-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Of the 20,660 patients who visited the ER, 1,486 patients who were transported by ambulance were included in this study. The prevalence of delirium upon arrival at the ER was 20.3% (301/1486 patients, 95% confidence intervals: 18.2-22.4). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between delirium on arrival at the ER and older age (odds ratio (OR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.04), past history of dementia (OR 3.94, 95%CI 2.41-6.44) and psychiatric illness (OR 2.76, 95%CI 1.41-5.40), higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores (OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.29-0.40), and requiring oxygen therapy on arrival at the ER (OR 2.09, 95%CI 1.45-3.02). The prevalence of delirium on arrival at the ER was approximately 20%. Our findings suggest that older age, history of dementia and psychiatric illness, low GCS score at presentation, and the need for oxygen therapy may be risk factors for delirium symptoms at presentation.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Moderate
This is a follow-up (cohort) study of 20,660 participants. This cohort study found that about 20% of patients transported by ambulance had delirium on arrival at the emergency room. Reported effect size: 8.3%; 20.3%; OR 3.94.
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
Sakuramoto, H., Onuma, J., Uno, S., Ikeda, M., Okamoto, S., Nakano, H., et al. (2025). Prevalence and Risk Factors for Delirium on Arrival at the Emergency Room by Ambulance. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79663
Vancouver
Sakuramoto H, Onuma J, Uno S, Ikeda M, Okamoto S, Nakano H, et al. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Delirium on Arrival at the Emergency Room by Ambulance. Cureus. 2025. doi:10.7759/cureus.79663. PMID: 40161105.
BibTeX
@article{sakuramoto2025-40161105,
author = {Sakuramoto, Hideaki and Onuma, Jumpei and Uno, Shogo and Ikeda, Mitsuki and Okamoto, Saiko and Nakano, Hidehiko and Hasimoto, Hideki and Ouchi, Akira},
title = {{Prevalence and Risk Factors for Delirium on Arrival at the Emergency Room by Ambulance}},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.7759/cureus.79663},
pmid = {40161105},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79663}
}
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 names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Of the 20,660 patients who visited the ER, 1,486 patients who were transported by ambulance were included in this study.
- The prevalence of delirium upon arrival at the ER was 20.3% (301/1486 patients, 95% confidence intervals: 18.2-22.4).
- Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between delirium on arrival at the ER and older age (odds ratio (OR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.04), past history of dementia (OR 3.94, 95%CI 2.41-6.44) and psychiatric illness (OR 2.76, 95%CI 1.41-5.40), higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores (OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.29-0.40), and requiring oxygen therapy on arrival at the ER (OR 2.09, 95%CI 1.45-3.02).
- The prevalence of delirium on arrival at the ER was approximately 20%.
- Our findings suggest that older age, history of dementia and psychiatric illness, low GCS score at presentation, and the need for oxygen therapy may be risk factors for delirium symptoms at presentation.
Why it matters
This cohort study found that about 20% of patients transported by ambulance had delirium on arrival at the emergency room. Older age, past history of dementia and psychiatric illness, lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores, and needing oxygen therapy were associated with delirium at presentation.
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants20,660
- Effect size8.3%; 20.3%; OR 3.94
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 53/100
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. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 51 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 53 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Cureus) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Cureus: journal h-index 131 (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 | 4 / 4 | 20,660 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 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.5× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Tsukuba: institution h-index 685 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40161105) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 51 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 51 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 53 out of 100. |
| Total | 53 / 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).
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