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Risk factors for postoperative delirium after elective major abdominal surgery in elderly patients: A cohort study

Ties L. Janssen, E. Steyerberg, M. C. Faes, J. Wijsman, P. Gobardhan, G. Ho, L. van der Laan

International Journal of Surgery, 2019

627 participants · 66 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Prehabilitation programs have recently been suggested as potentially able to lower the incidence of delirium in elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. For these prehabilitation programs to become successful, it is essential to identify those patients who are most likely to develop a delirium.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A single-centre cohort study was conducted. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥70 years and scheduled for abdominal surgery for colorectal cancer or an abdominal aortic aneurysm between January 2013 and June 2018. Baseline patient, surgical, anaesthesiologic and haematological characteristics were collected. A risk factor analysis was conducted, with postoperative delirium as primary outcome, by performing a multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

In this study, 627 patients were included, of whom 64 (10%) developed a delirium. Variables that differed significantly between delirious and non-delirious patients were age, burden of comorbidity, renal impairment, hypertension, cognitive impairment, history of delirium, physical and nutritional impairment, open surgery, preoperative anaemia and erythrocyte transfusion. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, risk factors for postoperative delirium after major abdominal surgery were renal impairment (OR 2.2; 95%CI 1.2 - 4.3), cognitive impairment (OR 4.1; 95%CI 1.8 - 9.2), an ASA score ≥ 3 (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.0 - 3.9), being an active smoker (OR 2.7; 95%CI 1.3 - 5.8), ICU admission…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 627 participants or records.

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