IL6 and delirium: Preoperative elevation of IL-6 (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.54–3.49), CXCL8 (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.86–4.99), and C-reactive protein (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.60–2.83) independently predict delirium risk across surgical populations, suggesting baseline inflammatory status as a modifiable risk factor [48].