A systematic review and meta-analysis led by researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy of both non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions for treating delirium in older adults (≥65 years). The analysis included 17 randomized controlled trials with a total of 3,765 patients, focusing on delirium duration as the primary outcome and length of hospital stay as a secondary measure. The study excluded ICU-only research to provide a clearer picture of treatment efficacy across various healthcare settings.

The findings revealed that non-pharmacological multicomponent interventions significantly reduced delirium duration by an average of 1.79 days compared to usual care, with notable effects observed in medical and mixed settings. In contrast, pharmacological interventions did not demonstrate a significant impact on delirium duration, with a mean difference of only -0.58 days. Furthermore, neither intervention type was effective in reducing the length of hospital stay, indicating a need for further investigation into treatment strategies.

These results highlight the potential of multicomponent non-pharmacological strategies in managing delirium among older adults, suggesting a shift in focus for future research and clinical practice. The lack of significant benefits from pharmacological treatments and single-component interventions underscores the necessity for high-quality trials that can better inform treatment protocols. This study emphasizes the importance of developing comprehensive, non-drug-based approaches to address delirium, which could ultimately improve patient outcomes and inform the design of future therapeutic interventions in geriatric care.

Source: academic.oup.com