Validation of the 4AT, a new instrument for rapid delirium screening: a study in 234 hospitalised older people

摘要: Objective: to evaluate the performance of 4 ‘A’s Test (4AT) in screening for delirium older patients. The 4AT is a new test rapid routine clinical practice. Design: prospective study consecutively admitted elderly patients with independent and reference standard assessments. Setting: an acute geriatrics ward department rehabilitation. Participants: two hundred thirty-six (aged ≥70 years) over period months. Measurements: each centre, was administered by geriatrician eligible within 24 h admission. Reference diagnosis (DSM-IV-TR criteria) obtained 30 min different who blind score. presence dementia assessed using Alzheimer's Questionnaire informant section Clinical Dementia Rating scale. main outcome measure accuracy diagnosing delirium. Results: were 83.9 ± 6.1 years old, majority women (64%). Delirium detected 12.3% (n = 29), 31.2% 74) combination both 7.2% 17). had sensitivity 89.7% specificity 84.1% delirium. areas under receiver operating characteristic curves 0.93 whole population, 0.92 without 0.89 dementia. Conclusions: sensitive specific method hospitalised people. Its brevity simplicity support its use practice.