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Cited by 160Intensive Care Unit Cognitive DisordersAnesthesia and Sedative AgentsPain Management and Opioid Use

Frequency, Severity, and Treatment of Agitation in Young versus Elderly Patients in the ICU

Fraser, Gilles L., Prato, B. Stephen, Riker, Richard R., Berthiaume, Donald, Wilkins, Micheline L.·2000·Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy
DOI 10.1592/phco.20.1.75.34663
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Abstract

Study Objective. To study the frequency, duration, severity, and treatment of agitation in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) to determine if the elderly represent a distinct population. Design. Prospective cohort study. Setting. Tertiary care, 10‐bed, multidisciplinary ICU. Patients. All patients older than 18 years of age admitted for longer than 24 hours during a 4‐month period. Interventions. None. Measurements and Main Results. One hundred thirty patients were studied for 916 patient‐days; 63 (48%) were elderly (> 65 yrs). Nurses and physicians described agitated behavior in 92 patients (70.8%) during 534 (58.3%) patient‐days, and it was severe or dangerous in 60 patients (46.1%) during 273 (30%) patient‐days. There were no age‐related differences in frequency, severity, and duration of agitation. Opiates, benzodiazepines, and haloperidol were administered during 72%, 62%, and 29% of agitated patient‐days, respectively. Haloperidol was administered more often to elderly patients (p=0.015); otherwise no between‐group differences were noted. Daily dosing requirements were less in the elderly for intermittent intravenous lorazepam, haloperidol, and morphine but not for midazolam (p=0.15). When these dosages were corrected for body mass, no statistical differences between young and old were found. Conclusion. In the ICU, the elderly are not a distinct population for agitation.

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  • The 42% incidence of agitation in this study agrees with previously reported rates in critically ill patients.

    “the 42% incidence of agitation in this study is in agreement with those previously reported in critically ill patients [13,26-28].”

    From Nicotine withdrawal and agitation in ventilated critically ill patients (2010) · cites this paper as [27]

  • Patients with agitation were more likely to be given supplemental sedative and analgesic agents or physical restraints to prevent self-inflicted injuries and treatment interference.

    “Patients with agitation were, however, more likely to be given supplemental sedative and analgesic agents or physical restraints to prevent self-inflicted injuries and thus treatment interference [13,27,28].”

    From Nicotine withdrawal and agitation in ventilated critically ill patients (2010) · cites this paper as [27]

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Authors
Fraser, G. L., Prato, B. S., Riker, R. R., Berthiaume, D., & Wilkins, M. L.
Affiliations
  • University of Vermont (US)
  • Maine Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Fraser, Gilles L.
ORCID
Venue
Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2000-01
Volume
20
Issue
1
Pages
75-82
ISSN
  • 0277-0008 (ISSN-L)
  • 1875-9114
DOI
10.1592/phco.20.1.75.34663
OpenAlex
W2065760598
Cited by
160
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
FWCI
3.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 4399 d)
Locations
  • Pharmacotherapy The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Intensive Care Unit Cognitive Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Anesthesia and Sedative Agents
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
Keywords
elderly patients, age differences, haloperidol, benzodiazepines, lorazepam, midazolam, morphine, opioid dosing, intensive care unit
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Analgesics, Opioid, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Haloperidol, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Length of Stay, Lorazepam, Male, Middle Aged, Morphine, Prospective Studies, Psychomotor Agitation, Tranquilizing Agents, Antipsychotic Agents, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Cohort Studies, APACHE

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