Kwetsbare oudere met een prednison-geïnduceerd delier

Background

Delirium always has an underlying cause, for example, medication. This article describes the case of a man with severe delirium caused by prednisone.

Case description

A 91-year-old vulnerable man developed severe delirium with agitation, verbal and physical aggression and visual hallucinations 3 days after starting treatment with low-dose prednisone. The delirium disappeared completely after prednisone was stopped. The delirium led to a long hospital stay of 36 days, weight loss of 10 kg due to undernourishment and extension of home care on discharge.

Conclusion

This case illustrates that delirium is always lurking around the corner in patients with multiple vulnerabilities. The provoking factor can be slight, for example 15 or 5 mg of prednisone. So be careful when starting prednisone in vulnerable elderly patients.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.