Development and validation of a delirium risk assessment tool in older patients admitted to the Emergency Department Observation Unit.

Background: Delirium is frequent though undetected in older patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED).

Aims: To develop and validate a delirium risk assessment tool for older persons admitted to the ED Observation Unit (OU).

Methods: We used data from two samples of 65 + year-old patients, one admitted to the ED of Brescia Hospital (n = 257) and one to the ED of Desio Hospital (n = 107), Italy.