Delirium in elderly hospitalised patients: protective effects of chronic rivastigmine usage.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of the chronic usage of the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine in patients with dementia in the prevention of delirium in case of hospitalisation.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Non-geriatric wards of an 1120 bed general teaching hospital in s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.