Delirium is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome usually associated with a general medical condition. Its prevalence is high among hospitalized elderly patients and is generally underdiagnosed. Delirium is associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased mortality, institutionalization, falls, cognitive and functional decline and also with higher economic costs. The etiology of delirium is multifactorial, including excessive sensorial stimulation and disruption of the sleep-wake cycle as triggering factors.~The aim of this study is evaluate the effect of earplugs and eyemask for delirium prevention among elderly in-patients of a brazilian university hospital. This will be a partially blinded clinical trial, in wich both control and intervention group will receive information about orientation to time and space every evening, and intervention group will also receive earplugs and eyemask for use during the night. The primary outcome will be the occurrence of delirium.
This study evaluates the effect of earplugs and eyemask for delirium prevention among elderly in-patients. Half of patients will receive earplugs and eyemask for use during the night and information about orientation to time and space every night, while the other half will receive only the time and space orientations.