Conclusions
There is emerging evidence that the contemporary CICU has evolved considerably over time, becoming increasingly similar to other medical and surgical intensive care settings. Patients have higher disease severity, more numerous comorbidities, and greater critical illness than ever before. It should not be surprising then that a condition that has become increasingly acknowledged in general ICU populations would be quite prevalent in the CICU as well. Our investigation, suggesting a similarly high risk for untoward events linked to delirium, adds to a small but growing evidence base. These findings illustrate the urgent need for prospective, multicenter studies to better understand the causes of CICU delirium and to develop and implement effective strategies for disease prevention and treatment. Until that time, the CAM-ICU score may be used as a simple, rapid bedside test to help risk stratify contemporary CICU patients.