Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and risk factors of delirium in acute ischemic stroke and its role in functional outcome. Methods: Delirium Observation Screening Scale/Delirium Observation Scale was used to assess patients presented by acute ischemic stroke for the severity of post-stroke delirium. Neurologic deficits were evaluated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Glasgow coma scale (GCS). Functional outcome assessment included the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months after stroke onset. Results: The study was conducted on 100 patients, included 65 males (65%) and 35 females (35%). Patients were divided according to the presence of delirium into 14 (14%) patients with Post Stroke Delirium (PSD) and 86 (86%) patients without PSD (mean age 66±11 and 60±14 respectively). Infections, metabolic disturbances and previous stroke were significantly associated with PSD. Cases with left cortical infarcts and cases with left subcortical infarcts were significantly associated with PSD. Higher initial NIHSS lower initial GCS, and old age patients were highly associated with PSD. Ischemic stroke patients with PSD were associated with higher mortality rates and bad outcome compared with ischemic stroke patients without delirium. Conclusion: The incidence of delirium in cases of acute ischemic stroke was 14%. Older age, infections, previous stroke, stroke severity, left cortical and left subcortical infarcts were risk factors for PSD. Higher mortality and bad outcome were associated with PSD.