Korean J Psychosom Med.  2023 Dec;31(2):89-99. 10.22722/KJPM.2023.31.2.89.

Comparison of Factors Associated With Agitation Among Youngest-Old, Middle-Old, and Oldest-Old Hospitalized Patients Referred to the Psychiatric Department

• Jang MS
• Choi SH
• Maeng Sr
• Kim YS
• Bae JN
• Lee JS
• Kim WH

• KMID: 2550624
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22722/KJPM.2023.31.2.89

Abstract

Objectives
：In this study, elderly hospitalized patients aged 65 years or older who were admitted to a university hospital and referred to the department of psychiatry were classified into youngest-old, middle-old, and oldest-old. It was conducted to find out what factors contribute to the agitation pattern by age group, wheth-er there is a difference in the factors, and whether there is a difference in the severity of the agitation pattern.
Methods
：From July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, the medical records of patients aged 65 years or older who were referred to the department of psychiatry were retrospectively reviewed. Age, gender, route of hospitalization, department of referral, reason for referral, treatment method, presence of internal and surgical diseases, and hematological test data were investigated.
Results
：There was a significant correlation with the RASS score in cases of surgery referral and high CRP levels for youngest-old aged 65 to 74 years, in cases of surgery referral, dementia and hyponatremia for middleold aged 75 to 84 years, in case of dementia for oldest-old aged 85 years old or older. In addition, there were differences in the severity of agitation patterns between age groups.
Conclusions
：As the age group increases, the agitation of delirium patients becomes more severe, and vari-ous factors contributing to the agitation pattern also differ by age group. Therefore, when treating elderly pa-tients with delirium, attention should be paid to factors that may affect agitation depending on age.

Keyword

Agitation; Sedation; RASS; Delirium; Elderly