Risk Factors of Delirium in Children in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of delirium and its risk factors among children admitted to a Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Method: A descriptive study in which consecutive patients admitted to the PICU over a period of 12 months were screened daily for delirium using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) score. Treatment-related and demographic variables were collected and analyzed. The statistically significant risk factors for delirium were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression for independent associations. Results: Among the 476 screened patients, 96 (20.2%) developed delirium. The independent risk factors associated with the development of delirium were respiratory failure (P < 0.001), administration of benzodiazepines during PICU stay (P < 0.001), and presence of multiple (>= 2) risk factors for delirium (P < 0.001). The mean length of PICU stay was significantly higher among delirious subjects with P < 0.001. Conclusion: Delirium is a frequent complication in critically ill children, and recognition of associated factors may assist in early diagnosis and focussed management.