Background: Delirium is a challenging condition in the geriatric inpatient population due to its multifactorial nature. As anticholinergic medications have been observed to be associated with delirium, this association has led to the development of the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale (ACB). Our objective is to dBackground: Delirium is a challenging condition in the geriatric inpatient population due to its multifactorial nature. As anticholinergic medications have been observed to be associated with delirium, this association has led to the development of the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale (ACB). Our objective is to determine whether a high ACB score is associated with delirium within an Appalachian population in a West Virginia statewide referral center. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 174 patients 65 years or older were assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) upon arrival to a general medicine unit at J. W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. The ACB scores were analyzed with reference to presence of delirium per the CAM. Subsequently, ACB scores were compared at two time points— arrival onto the inpatient unit and on the date of discharge. Results: There was no significant association between increased ACB score and presence of delirium. There was no difference in ACB score between patients with and without delirium (p=0.855). When comparing ACB scores on date of CAM versus on date of discharge, there was no significant difference between patients with or without delirium (p=0.467). Conclusion: There was no significant association between a high ACB score and a positive CAM at the time of initial assessment within the limitations of the study. Additionally, there was no change in anticholinergic burden upon patient discharge based on ACB scores.
Anticholinergic; Delirium; Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale (ACB)
scitechnol 