An examination of the connections between postoperative pain and subsyndromal delirium in older adults: A review article

Subsyndromal delirium is linked to significant negative consequences such as lengthier hospital stays, more people being admitted to long-term care facilities, and higher 6-month mortality rates. Although postoperative pain is a risk factor for delirium, it is unknown whether it affects the severity of the condition's subclinical symptoms. Improved knowledge will guide nurse interventions to lessen the adverse effects of delirium symptoms. When age, cognitive status, smoking status, and opioid intake were considered, higher pain levels were significantly related to subsyndromal delirium (p.05.) Opioid use, however, was not significantly associated with subsyndromal delirium after age; cognitive function, smoking status, and pain were taken into account. Nurses caring for elderly patients after joint replacement surgery are urged to maintain good pain management to delay the onset and worsening of delirium symptoms.