Delirium and COVID-19 pandemic

Delirium in the elderly is a highly prevalent acute medical condition in general hospitals. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to increase both its incidence and duration due to difficulties in implementing proper preventive strategies or employing non-pharmacological methods of treatment. Delirium is being recognized as a basic component of COVID-19 infection, especially in elderly people, but its assessment is not included as a routine method of evaluation of these patients. Its etiology is multifactorial and seems to be related to viral invasion in the central nervous system. Delirium in COVID-19, contrary to classical delirium, is more prevalent and has worse prognosis. Its treatment is practically the same, but non-pharmacological methods are more difficult to implement. Awareness, increased vigilance and proper assessment are very important because failure to diagnose delirium in these patients has many negative consequences.