Delirium is the most common complication in older surgical patients.

In a study of over 9,000 older adults undergoing inpatient general surgery, delirium emerged as the leading complication, occurring in 11.9% of patients. Including geriatric-pertinent complications raised the overall complication rate by 20.4%. Key findings revealed significant ties between complications like delirium and pressure ulcers, with both contributing to over 50% of postoperative functional decline rates. The research underscores the need for targeted improvements in care to address these critical complications.