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. 2014 Mar;204(3):188-93.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.119610. Epub 2013 Jul 25.

Risk of dementia after anaesthesia and surgery

Pin-Liang Chen  1 , Chih-Wen Yang, Yi-Kuan Tseng, Wei-Zen Sun, Jane-Ling Wang, Shuu-Jiun Wang, Yen-Jen Oyang, Jong-Ling Fuh
Affiliations

Risk of dementia after anaesthesia and surgery

Pin-Liang Chen et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Background: The potential relationship between anaesthesia, surgery and onset of dementia remains elusive.

Aims: To determine whether the risk of dementia increases after surgery with anaesthesia, and to evaluate possible associations among age, mode of anaesthesia, type of surgery and risk of dementia.

Method: The study cohort comprised patients aged 50 years and older who were anaesthetised for the first time since 1995 between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2007, and a control group of randomly selected patients matched for age and gender. Patients were followed until 31 December 2010 to identify the emergence of dementia.

Results: Relative to the control group, patients who underwent anaesthesia and surgery exhibited an increased risk of dementia (hazard ratio = 1.99) and a reduced mean interval to dementia diagnosis. The risk of dementia increased in patients who received intravenous or intramuscular anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia and general anaesthesia.

Conclusions: The results of our nationwide, population-based study suggest that patients who undergo anaesthesia and surgery may be at increased risk of dementia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

None.

Comment in

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