Is confusion preventable in hospitalized elderly patients?

Confusion syndrome is the most common geriatric syndrome complicating the hospitalization of frail elderly patients. Confusion is often the consequence of difficulty in adapting to the care process. Confusion is a pertinent target for preventive strategy because of the severity of its prognosis, the absence of effective treatment and our knowledge of its risk factors. Several randomized studies have demonstrated that a multi-component, nonpharmacological preventive strategy can significantly reduce the incidence of confusion in medical units or in post surgical situations.