[Postoperative cognitive dysfunction: prevalence and associated factors]

Abstract

Background and objectives: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is related to factors such as physical status, electrolytic, visual and immune disorders, alcoholism, drugs and advanced age. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of POCD and its associated factors.

Methods: Participated in this prospective study 55 patients aged 18 to 89 years, scheduled for elective orthopedic, urologic, general or vascular surgeries, under general or regional anesthesia. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was applied the day before surgery (M0), at 24 postoperative hours (M1) and 3 to 7 days after surgery (M2). POCD was defined as MMSE score below 24/30 or as a difference equal to or above 4 as compared to M0. Univariate and multivariate analysis variables included age, gender, type of anesthesia and surgery, intraoperative hypotension, hypoxemia or hypocapnia, use of atropine and surgery length.

Results: POCD was observed in eight patients (14.54%). All POCD patients were above 65 years of age. Among these patients, the prevalence of POCD was 28.57%. Only age and preanesthetic MMSE scores were different between patients with or without POCD. The logistic model included only preanesthetic MMSE scores.

Conclusions: Among the variables included in this study, only preanesthetic MMSE score is a significant independent predictor of POCD.