Delirium: A dangerous hidden condition
Delirium is a leading hospital complication in Australia.
More than 30% of people undergoing heart or hip surgery and 50% of adults in intensive care experience delirium.
Every year, around 2,000 patients are diagnosed with delirium at RBWH.
It’s estimated that only one-third of hospital-acquired delirium is diagnosed.
Extended hospital stays and post-hospital care needs due to delirium are estimated to cost Australia $8.8 billion each year.
Help us fund patient research and care
Delirium is a state of confusion in the brain, often affecting older people due to factors like dementia, frailty, and sensory impairments. However, it can occur at any age after serious illness or surgery, developing rapidly over hours or days and lasting for weeks or even months.
No drug treats delirium, but early screening can enable clinicians to provide safer care and better support to families.
Research teams at RBWH are dedicated to understanding delirium, raising awareness, and implementing prevention strategies across Queensland and Australia.
Donate today to help us advance ongoing medical research in conditions like delirium.
Richard and Irene's story
Irene was reading while her husband, Richard, watched TV when he made a horrible sound and stopped breathing.
“I couldn’t even think to dial 000. The last person who had phoned me was my son. So I dialled his number, and I just screamed - I need help!” Irene remembers.
Richard was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) in cardiac arrest. After a successful surgery, he was moved to the ICU to recover. But just when Irene thought the worst was behind them, she noticed Richard still wasn’t himself.
“He didn’t even remember that we live in Brisbane. And he was angry all the time, which was devastating. He wasn’t the Richard I knew anymore.” says Irene.
Richard was suffering from delirium. It caused a complicated recovery and resulted in long-term cognitive issues.
"It was eight months of being at the hospital every day. It was a scary time all round. But now he's back to how he was with some residual short-term memory loss."
Read full story here.
Eat Walk Engage®
Eat Walk Engage®, is a multi-disciplinary program that improves care for older people in hospital, prevents delirium and promotes faster recovery.
Developed by Professor Alison Mudge, a leading researcher of internal medicine and aged care at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH), in collaboration with her team and external partners, Eat Walk Engage® provides better, safer care that reduces delirium and gets our older patients home to their families earlier.
“Delirium is a leading hospital complication in Australia, but it’s estimated that only one-third of hospital-acquired delirium is diagnosed. So far Eat Walk Engage® has shown a 47% reduction in delirium, increased discharge home, and trend to reduced six-month mortality and readmission."
Research teams at RBWH are dedicated to understanding delirium, raising awareness, and implementing prevention strategies across Queensland and Australia.
