# Harnessing the Power of Technology to Transform Delirium Severity Measurement in the ICU

> **NIH NIH K23** · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · 2022 · $162,020

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This K23 application outlines a career development plan that will advance Dr. Heidi Lindroth on her pathway to
becoming an extramurally funded, independent clinician-nurse scientist. Her long-term career goal is to
become an international leader focused on mitigating delirium severity in older adults, reducing the risk and
burden of adverse outcomes, including Alzheimer’s Disease and related Dementias (ADRD).
Delirium, an acute and fluctuating disturbance in consciousness and cognition, impacts 70-80% of
mechanically ventilated, intensive care unit (ICU) older adults. Severe delirium accelerates the rate of global
cognitive decline leading to an increased risk of ADRD. Therefore, reducing delirium severity holds great
promise in decreasing ADRD burden. Unfortunately, delirium severity is seldom monitored in the ICU. Accurate
and timely measurement of delirium severity is urgently needed to implement the proper, evidence-based
treatment at the right time. To begin to fill this significant gap in clinical care, Dr. Lindroth’s proposed research
study will leverage the foundational work completed in the Mayo Clinic Herasevich Clinical Informatics
Laboratory to develop and preliminary test a passive digital marker (PDM) for delirium severity in critically ill,
older adults. Like a continuous vital sign, this PDM would provide immediate and actionable feedback to
clinicians on the status of delirium severity in ICU patients. Older adult (>65 years old) patients who are
anticipated to remain in the ICU for >24 hours will be prospectively recruited upon their admission to the
medical ICU at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and the general ICU at the Mayo Clinic, Eau Claire, WI for both
stages of the study (development-aims 1 and 2; pilot RCT-aim 3; total n=230) and followed until either death
and/or discharge from the ICU. Data collected will include continuous digital video recordings of the patient in
their ICU room, routine EHR data, and study team administered delirium severity assessments. The pilot RCT
in Aim 3 will randomize participants (1:1, computer-generated assignment) to either the intervention (PDM for
delirium severity) or usual care with the primary outcomes of usability and acceptability.
Dr. Lindroth has co-designed a career development plan and a research proposal with her transdisciplinary
mentorship team to accomplish the following short-term objectives to: 1) acquire informatics and data science
knowledge to design/build tools that support clinical decision making; 2) gain experience in the conduct of
prospective ICU clinical trials in older adults, and; 3) acquire and develop grant writing skills. These short-term
objectives will be accomplished through formal training (Masters in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare),
experiential learning (conduct of proposed study), and focused mentorship Thus, this K23 award will allow Dr.
Lindroth to progress in her career development plan and provide her with necessary pr...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10424978
- **Project number:** 1K23AG076662-01
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Heidi Lindroth
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $162,020
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10424978

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10424978, Harnessing the Power of Technology to Transform Delirium Severity Measurement in the ICU (1K23AG076662-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10424978. Licensed CC0.

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