Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Confusion risk factors
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Increasing age, admission to the hospital, post-surgical status, alcoholism, and underlying brain lesions are common risk factors in the development of confusion.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
The risk factors of confusion can be grouped in two main categories; factors which involve underlying brain conditions, and certain conditions which are known to precipitate confusion.[1]
- Increasing age is one of the most significant risk factors
- Hospitalization
- Post surgical recovery
- Admission into intensive care unit
- Drug abuse
- Alcoholism
- Multisystem organ failure
Underlying Brain Conditions
Precipitating Factors
- Hypoxia
- Hypoglycemia
- Poisonings
- Infections
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Prolonged immobility
- Head injury
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Â ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2]