Pharmacological Management of Delirium in Older Adults in the Emergency Department: Clinical Outcomes

Background/Objectives: Delirium is frequent and serious in older adults attending the emergency department (ED), but evidence on its pharmacological management in this setting is limited. This study aimed to quantify the pharmacological treatment of de-lirium in older adults in the ED and examine its association with subsequent hospital admission. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and June 2022 in a Spanish ED. The sample included 153 adults aged 65 years or older with clinician-diagnosed delirium. Clinical, triage, and medication data were obtained from electronic medical records, and associations with hospital admis-sion were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Ninety-one partic-ipants (59.5%) were hospitalised. Antipsychotic, analgesic, and benzodiazepine use was associated with increased risk of hospitalisation. Absence of an underlying cause was a protective factor. The logistic regression model was significant. Conclusions: Specific drug families were associated with a higher likelihood of hospital admission in older adults with delirium in the ED. These findings support safer and more individualised pharmacological approaches and highlight the need for studies evaluating targeted interventions.