Implications of objective vs subjective delirium assessment in surgical intensive care patients.

Background: Delirium is an independent predictor of increased length of stay, mortality, and treatment costs in critical care patients. Its incidence may be underestimated or overestimated if delirium is assessed by using subjective clinical impression alone rather than an objective instrument.

Objectives: To determine frequency of discrepancies between subjective and objective delirium monitoring.