Term | Definition | Potential application to delirium |
---|---|---|
Phenotype | A set of clinical features in a group of patients who share a common syndrome or condition. | Altered cognition Inattention Altered awareness Disorientation |
Subphenotype | A set of features in a group of patients who share a phenotype. Includes shared risk factors, traits, diagnostic features, expression markers, mortality risk, or treatment response—which distinguishes the group from other patients with the same phenotype. | Clinical Shared risk quantification Shared precipitants Specific symptoms, e.g. inattention, agitation Delirium duration Diagnostic features Defined by pathophysiology Prominent mechanism Inflammatory/non-inflammatory Melatonin levels Neurotransmitter presence Network connectivity extent Presence of oxidative stress |
Endotype | A distinct biological mechanism of disease which is often associated with an anticipated clinical course, shared by a patient subgroup. | Associations between biological putative pathways of delirium and the clinical symptoms which occur as a result |
Treatable traits | Subgroup characteristics which may be successfully targeted by an intervention. | Decisions and development of the best course of action for treatment- Treating symptoms Treating the mechanisms which express the symptoms A combination of both |