AWOL — AWOL delirium prediction rule
2013A four-item rule scored at admission (Age ≥80, spell 'World' backward, Orientation, iLlness severity) that predicts which medical inpatients are likely to DEVELOP delirium — a risk-stratification tool for prevention, not a detection test.
Prediction rule; AUC 0.81 (derivation), 0.69 (validation). Delirium risk rose 2%→64% across scores.
Full nameAWOL delirium prediction rule
Also known asAWOL, AWOL tool
PurposeRisk prediction
PopulationAdult
SettingGeneral / acute hospital
Items4
Administration<1 min
EvidenceSingle validation study
Reference typeOriginal validation study
Reference standardCAM (incident delirium)
Validation samplen = 209 + 165
Cut-off / scoring0–4 risk score
Strengths＋ Predicts who will develop delirium; supports prevention
Limitations− Prediction, not detection; modest AUC on validation
ReferenceDouglas VC, Hessler CS, Dhaliwal G, et al. The AWOL tool: derivation and validation of a delirium prediction rule. J Hosp Med. 2013;8(9):493-9. PMID 23922253
* Where shown, sensitivity/specificity are from the cited validation cohort and are not pooled estimates. Citation metadata was checked against PubMed or the publisher DOI record; a checked reference does not imply validation, study quality or endorsement. See the Methodology.