Postoperative Delirium: A Review of Risk Factors and Tools of Prediction

Over one-third of the surgeries in the United States are performed on patients aged 65 and older, and delirium is one of the most common postoperative complications in this population. Postoperative delirium is a heterogeneous disorder, and as such it is not surprising that the reported predisposing and precipitating factors are widely variable. Knowledge of the risk factors that predict postoperative delirium will aid in early identification of patients at highest risk in order to allow targeted use of resources including geriatric consults, specialized units, and nonpharmacologic interventions.