A new study conducted by researchers from Regenstrief Institute and the universities of South Carolina and Indiana has found that the most commonly prescribed blood pressure medications, taken for at least six months prior to an intensive care unit (ICU) admission, did not protect against developing delirium in the ICU, regardless of patient age, gender, race, co-morbidities or insurance status.
Delirium, an acute brain failure, affects approximately seven million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually and is associated with longer hospital and ICU length of stay, higher likelihood of mechanical ventilation, long-term cognitive impairment, new nursing home placement and greater likelihood of death. As delirium severity and duration increase, post-discharge cognitive and functional outcomes worsen.
Montessori Academy of Lancaster and Manheim Township Middle School Odyssey of the Mind teams have earned spots in the world championship competition in East Lansing, Michigan, in May.
Editor s note: A previous version of this story included only two Lancaster County teams qualifying for the world championship competition. The story has since been updated to include a third