Study Summary:

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response that may predispose patients to delirium, an acute confusional state that affects over 80% of mechanically ventilated patients during their intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Delirium and subsyndromal delirium (a confusional state that partially meets the diagnostic criteria of delirium) have been associated with worse patient outcomes, including increased duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and cognitive and physical impairment. Literature has demonstrated that delirium may be associated with neuronal injury and long-term cognitive impairment. Understanding the association of delirium severity and neuronal injury with biomarkers of neuronal injury will be imperative to better understand the pathophysiology and outcomes of delirium.

Objectives:

(1)To evaluate the association between neuronal damage biomarkers, delirium severity, and subsyndromal delirium in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis.
(2)To provide an estimate of the prevalence of delirium severity and subsyndromal delirium in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kirsten Fiest

Study Team: Dr. Karla Krewulak, Brianna Rosgen, Dr. Thomas Stelfox, Dr. Bryan Yipp