Preliminary evaluation of a smartphone application (DelApp) for identification of delirium in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: In sub-Saharan Africa, there are no validated screening tools for delirium in older adults, despite the known vulnerability of older people to delirium and the associated adverse outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a brief smartphone-based assessment of arousal and attention (DelApp) in the identification of delirium amongst older adults admitted to the medical department of a tertiary referral hospital in Northern Tanzania.

Method: Consecutive admissions were screened using the DelApp during a larger study of delirium prevalence and risk factors.

Delirium Stigma Among Healthcare Staff.

Older people with delirium occupy more than one third of acute medical beds and require increased medical attention, as care at present is suboptimal. In addition, since delirium is undetected, it should form a target for teaching in wards. Moreover, as people with delirium are largely dependent on daily interactions and care by inpatients professional staff, it is important to address stigmatisation of these vulnerable patients.

Risk Factors for Delirium in Older Medical Inpatients in Tanzania.

Background: The risk factors for prevalent delirium in older hospitalised adults in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain poorly characterised.

Methods: A total of 510 consecutive admissions of adults aged ≥60 years to acute medical wards of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in northern Tanzania were recruited. Patients were assessed within 24 h of admission with a risk factor questionnaire, physiological observations, neurocognitive assessment, and informant interview.