Publications by authors named "G A Caplan"

Background: Delirium, an acute brain dysfunction, is proposed to be highly prevalent in clinical care and shown to significantly increase the risk of mortality and dementia.

Objectives: To report on the global prevalence of clinically documented delirium and delirium-related clinical practices in wards caring for paediatric and adult patients in healthcare facilities.

Design: A prospective, cross-sectional, 39-question survey completed on World Delirium Awareness Day, 15 March 2023.

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Article Synopsis
  • Delirium can lead to long-term brain problems, and the study looked at specific brain markers related to both delirium and dementia.
  • Researchers studied 35 people with ongoing delirium and compared them to 20 people with dementia to see how their brain markers were different.
  • The findings showed that certain brain markers were higher in people with persistent delirium, suggesting that this condition affects the brain in specific ways even if someone has dementia too.
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Background: Delirium is a common complication of older people in hospitals, rehabilitation and long-term facilities.

Objective: To assess the worldwide use of validated delirium assessment tools and the presence of delirium management protocols.

Design: Secondary analysis of a worldwide one-day point prevalence study on World Delirium Awareness Day, 15 March 2023.

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Background: The aetiology of delirium is not known, but pre-existing cognitive impairment is a predisposing factor. Here we explore the associations between delirium and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), proteins with important roles in both acute injury and chronic neurodegeneration.

Methods: Using a 13-plex Discovery Assay®, we quantified CSF levels of 9 MMPs and 4 TIMPs in 280 hip fracture patients (140 with delirium), 107 cognitively unimpaired individuals, and 111 patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia.

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Delirium is common in hospitalised patients, and there is currently no specific treatment. Identifying and treating underlying somatic causes of delirium is the first priority once delirium is diagnosed. Several international guidelines provide clinicians with an evidence-based approach to screening, diagnosis and symptomatic treatment.

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