Introduction

Delirium, a form of acute brain dysfunction presenting as altered mental status, and impairment of memory, emotion, thinking, perception and behaviour1 develops over hours to days2 and is seen in 20%–80%1 3 of adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients, depending on the diagnostic method and severity of illness. Delirium diagnosis is often missed, as only 25% of patients experiencing this disorder are hyperactive.1 3 More prevalent is hypoactive delirium: patients appearing sedated, responding slowly to instructions or questions and, rarer still, mixed delirium patients may be hyperactive and hypoactive.3 4 There is also subsyndromal delirium, representing an intermediate state—not normal and yet not fully developed delirium. Delirium can lead to serious complications including increased length of ICU stay and increased readmission, institutionalisation and mortality rates.3 5 If not diagnosed or treated, delirium may lead to irreparable6 and delayed7–9 cognitive failure.

The risk factors for, and pathophysiology of, delirium are unclear.3 10 Social isolation is, however, a presumptive risk factor. We hypothesised that a programme of interaction—reading to critically ill ICU patients on a daily basis—might decrease delirium days. The data presented herein comprises our preliminary report.