AWOL Score for Delirium
AWOL Calculator
A - Age ≥80 Years
W - Was Not Able to Spell "WORLD" Backwards
O - disOrientation (to city, date, or hospital)
L - iLlness Severity (Acute Physiology Score ≥2)
AWOL Score:
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Predicts risk of delirium during hospitalization.
Formula
Addition of the selected points: Variable Points Age <80 years 0 ≥80 years 1 Correctly spells “world” backward Yes 0 No 1 Oriented to city, state, county, hospital name, and floor Yes 0 No 1 Nursing illness severity assessment Not ill 0 Mildly ill 0 Moderately ill 1 Severely ill 1 Moribund 1
Pearls / Pitfalls
Validated in English speakers (backwards spelling of "WORLD"); however, in some languages, may be translated directly using a different word, or, in languages that use characters to represent words, may modify task to serial 7s.
Advice
Consider delirium prevention measures in patients with higher AWOL scores.
More Information
Interpretation: AWOL Score Risk of delirium during hospitalization 0 2% 1 4% 2 14% 3 20% 4 64%