Collaborative Delirium Prevention in the age of COVID-19

Letter to the Editor of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.  COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented threat to all of us, regardless of age, nationality, or socioeconomic status, however, older patients are especially at risk for life-threatening respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebral complications.  As the pandemic continues to consume hospital resources, delirium prevention strategies may become an unintended casualty.  A significant consequence is the anticipated surge or delirium incidents and duration of hospitalised patients.  An increase in delirium will result in both inadvertent harm to individuals but also exacerbate hospital resources.  This letter is to highlight these complications and post pragmatic recommendations for minimizing the risk and duration of delirium in all patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.