14th May 2024

An 80-year-old man, recently admitted to the hospital for surgery, is observed to have fluctuating levels of consciousness, disorientation, and visual hallucinations in the evenings.

An 80-year-old man, recently admitted to the hospital for surgery, is observed to have fluctuating levels of consciousness, disorientation, and visual hallucinations in the evenings. His condition seems to worsen at night.

Which factor is most likely contributing to the exacerbation of his delirium symptoms during the evening?