TY  - JOUR
T1  - HOspitalization and cognitive function in older adults—reply
AU  - Ehlenbach WJ, Hough CL, Larson EB
Y1  - 2010/06/02
N1  - 10.1001/jama.2010.701
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 2137
EP  - 2138
VL  - 303
IS  - 21
N2  - 
In Reply: We agree with Drs van Munster and de Rooij that delirium is likely an important factor in the pathway between acute or critical illness and cognitive decline in older patients. Not only has delirium been shown to be associated with higher mortality, longer length of stay, and greater cost in critically ill patients, a number of studies have demonstrated the association between delirium and long-term cognitive outcomes.1 In addition to the evidence that inflammation may play a role in the pathophysiology of both delirium and dementia, patients with an apolipoprotein E genotype associated with dementia (ApoE4) are at greater risk for delirium when critically ill.2 This also supports a link between mechanisms leading to delirium and those leading to long-term cognitive impairment.

SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.701
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.701
ER  -