Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care praises research funding allocations of $15.8 million dollars

Key points:

• The National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Project has granted more than $1.3 million dollars to research interventions for delirium in Australia
• Up to 18 percent of older Australians are affected by delirium at the time of admission to the hospital, according to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare
• Symptoms of delirium can appear similar to dementia, but the onset is much quicker and only lasts a few days

Researchers at Southern Cross University recently received more than $1.3 million dollars to develop prevention measures for delirium, a condition that affects many older Australians.

The National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Project scheme granted funding to Associate Professor Christina Aggar for a three-year study based on the pilot of a delirium identification toolkit that has been used as a trial intervention for delirium in hospital patients. 

Up to 18 percent of older Australians experience delirium at the time of admission to the hospital, according to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare.

The Prevention and Early Delirium Identification Carer Toolkit, also known as PREDICT, was used in the initial study to ‘support partnerships between carers and nurses to prevent and manage delirium’ in the Australian healthcare system.

However, researchers have found that undiagnosed delirium may occur in up to 66 percent of older adults.

Determining the cause of a person’s delirium isn’t always possible but some reasons may include reactions to medications, alcohol withdrawal, chemical imbalances, a lack of sleep or extreme emotional distress.

Delirious behaviour may include having a reduced awareness of one’s surroundings, reduced thinking skills and behavioural changes such as:

• increased anxiety;
• pacing around the room;
• changes in personality; and
• seeing things that other people don’t see.

While symptoms of delirium can seem similar to dementia, a person experiencing delirium will:

• experience the first symptoms within a few days;
• struggle to remain alert; and
• have changing memory and focus levels.

A person with dementia will experience gradual memory loss that may occur over many years and will generally not experience varied levels of memory ability.

However, it’s possible for a person with dementia to also experience delirium. 

Approximately 411,000 Australians live with dementia, as per recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Associate Professor Christine Aggar highlighted the importance of this funding to prevent delirium in patients and assist their families. 

“Delirium is the most common hospital-acquired complication in older adults, with an estimated annual healthcare services and social cost of $8.8 billion dollars,” she said.

“The increase in Australia’s ageing population is expected to exacerbate the impact of delirium in healthcare settings, leading to increased rates of hospital-acquired injury, delayed discharge, re-admissions, dementia, residential aged care admissions, death and greater caring responsibilities for families.” 

Researchers of a New South Wales study identified a 39 percent increased risk of death for patients who experience delirium, compared to people without symptoms.

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Southern Cross University Professor Mary Spongberg highlighted how the grant funding will help to further the understanding and prevention of delirium. 

“This vital research, focused on the nurse-family carer partnership, supported by the Prevention & Early Delirium Identification Carer Toolkit, promises to significantly reduce delirium incidence and related hospital costs,” she said.

“The project has the potential to drive systemic change in delirium management, enhancing patient outcomes and alleviating pressures on our healthcare system. 

“We take great pride in this initiative and look forward to its far-reaching impact.” 

The Australian Government has invested $15.8 million dollars through grants for Australian researchers to identify methods to improve healthcare outcomes for Australians.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney also praised the allocation of funding to numerous studies to improve healthcare outcomes in Australia.

“As a former nurse, I know just how important research can be for medical break-throughs to support patients and families,” she said

“[This] multimillion-dollar investment will help support our research industry and medical innovation.”

Other NHMRC-approved research projects include improving service delivery gaps for young people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and improving care for Australians with multiple chronic conditions.

If you’re concerned about a loved one experiencing delirium, speak to a doctor or health professional.

Do you know someone who has experienced delirium? How did this affect them?

Let the team at Talking Aged Care know on social media. 

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