
Yes, Delirium is a symptom of COVID-19 in older adults. As we continue to learn about COVID-19, we know that the disease can affect the body well beyond just lungs. Researchers have found that COVID-19 can also affect the brain as well. Delirium, also known as acute confusion, is being reported in more and more cases of COVID-19.
Maura Kennedy, M.D., MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, asserts COVID-19 poses the greatest risk to older adults aged 65+. Delirium can be an early symptom of COVID-19 in older adults and can have adverse outcomes.
In a 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open, Dr. Kennedy and colleagues presented results from a multicenter cohort study designed to investigate the frequency of delirium as a presenting symptom in older adults who come to the ER with COVID-19.
The researchers found that of the 817 older patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 28% of them had a common symptom of delirium. For those with COVID-19 and dementia, 16% had delirium as a primary symptom and 37% did not have typical COVID-19 symptoms.
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Robert Friedland, M.D., director of the Cognitive Disorders Program, and Cathy Bays, nurse practitioner, are in the Department of Neurology with UofL Health – UofL Physicians. Dr. Friedland and Cathy specialize in the diagnosis and care of adults experiencing cognitive impairment, including memory.