A 81-year-old woman with moderate frailty is admitted with a urinary tract infection. On the second day of admission, she develops acute confusion. Th...

Question

A 81-year-old woman with moderate frailty is admitted with a urinary tract infection. On the second day of admission, she develops acute confusion. The 4AT score is 7. After initial assessment and treatment of the UTI, the delirium does not resolve after 5 days. Her family is concerned that she now has dementia. What is the MOST appropriate advice?

Accepted Answer

Reassure the family that delirium can persist for days to weeks, even after the precipitant is treated, and that formal cognitive assessment should be deferred until the delirium has fully resolved

Answer

Confirm a diagnosis of dementia and start Donepezil

Answer

Arrange an urgent MRI brain to diagnose dementia

Answer

Discharge home as the UTI has been treated

Answer

Refer immediately to the memory clinic for diagnosis

uk-dgm MCQ (SBA): Delirium Duration and Deferred Dementia Assessment