Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Incidence and risk factors of postoperative delirium after surgery in the spanish population: The DELPO study
Authors' conclusion
This Spanish study found that postoperative delirium, linked to longer hospital stays and higher mortality, requires early detection and prevention to improve outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Surgical patients across 43 Spanish hospitals, recruited on November 14 and 21, 2023
- Participants
- 2,442 patients · 43 hospitals
- Outcome
- Early postoperative delirium incidence (CAM, CAM-ICU, 4AT)
- Follow-up
- By postoperative day 2
Methodological details43 Spanish hospitals, follow-up on postoperative day 2 and at 60 days
- 43 Spanish hospitals
- Follow-up on postoperative day 2 and at 60 days
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Postoperative delirium incidence
Delirium incidence
3.93 %
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Independent preoperative risk factors for delirium (multivariable analysis)
| OR (95 % CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient age | 1.05 (1.04–1.08) | P > 0.001 | |
| Cognitive impairment (SBT > 6 points) | 1.12 (1.08–1.15) | P < 0.001 | |
| Substance use disorder | 3.97 (1.05–14.93) | P = 0.042 | |
| Alcoholism | 1.92 (1.20–3.07) | P = 0.006 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
- Independent preoperative risk factors for delirium (multivariable analysis) — Model AUROC
- 0.81 (95 % CI 0.76 to 0.85)
Mortality, delirium vs no delirium · 60 days
%
- Mortality with delirium
- 8.3
- Mortality without delirium
- 0.6
- Delirium associated with significantly higher mortality
Hospital LOS
- Delirium associated with longer hospital stays
Original publication
Incidence and risk factors of postoperative delirium after surgery in the spanish population: The DELPO study. J Clin Anesth. Published 8 October 2025. doi:10.
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