Delirium in the long-term care: a challenge for clinicians and researchers-the negative outcomes related to delirium: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Most previous studies on the outcomes of delirium have focused on acute care hospital settings. However, the number of residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities is increasing, and these individuals are at risk of experiencing adverse outcomes related to delirium. Recent studies suggest that delirium in LTC settings is associated with serious consequences-such as increased mortality, cognitive decline, and reduced physical function-similar to those reported in acute care. However, high-quality studies specific to this population remain limited. PURPOSE: This scoping review aimed to identify adverse outcomes associated with delirium in long-term care settings and to explore appropriate outcome measures for future research. METHODS: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and adhered to the PRISMA-ScR checklist to identify studies examining adverse outcomes of delirium in LTC settings. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched on May 2025. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Delirium was defined and evaluated using a variety of assessment tools, including DSM-IV-based algorithms, the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), and the Short-CAM (S-CAM). Follow-up durations ranged from 1 week to 2 years. Despite substantial heterogeneity in study designs and outcome measures, multiple studies identified associations between delirium and adverse outcomes, such as increased mortality, cognitive decline, falls, and deterioration in activities of daily living (ADL). CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review provides insight into adverse outcomes of delirium in LTC settings and the inherent heterogeneity across LTC settings.