Abstract 16410: Burden of Delirium on Mortality and Healthcare Resources Utilization in Geriatric Patients Hospitalized for Acute Coronary Syndrome: 5-years Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and delirium are frequently observed in the geriatric population. Nevertheless, the precise impact of delirium on ACS outcomes and resource utilization remains inadequately elucidated. Hypothesis: We aim to investigate the burden of delirium on the outcomes of geriatric patients admitted for management of ACS. Methods: This is an analysis of the National Inpatient Sample of the years 2016 to 2020. We identified patients >= 65 years old who were admitted with a principal diagnosis of ACS. Outcome studied included mortality difference, and length of stay (LOS) and cost of care (COC) as indicatives of healthcare resources utilization. Regression analysis was performed to compare those that developed delirium vs. those that did not while adjusting for baseline characteristics and comorbidities Results: Out of 1,845,379 elderly patients admitted for ACS, 1.3% (24,090 patients) developed delirium. The delirium group did not experience higher rates of in-hospital mortality compared to the non-delirium group (aOR 1.022, p=0.69, 95% CI 0.916-1.140). However, elderly ACS patients with delirium had a longer length of stay (aMD 5.60 days, 95% CI 5.26-5.95, p<0.001) and higher cost of care (aMD $84,512, 95% CI $77,168-$91,857, p<0.001). Conclusions: Elderly patients hospitalized for ACS face extended hospital stays and higher costs of care when they develop delirium. These findings highlight the significant economic impact of delirium and emphasize the importance of preventive measures in elderly ACS patients