Postoperative Outcomes in Elderly Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery With Preoperative Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Older patients with preoperative cognitive impairment are at risk for increased postoperative complications after noncardiac surgery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the association between preoperative cognitive impairment and dementia and postoperative outcomes in older surgical patients after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Eight electronic databases were searched from inception to January 4, 2022. Inclusion criteria were cardiac surgery patients ≥60 years of age; preoperative cognitive impairment; ≥1 postoperative complication reported; comparator group with no preoperative cognitive impairment; and written in English. Using a random-effects model, we calculated effect sizes as odds ratio (OR) and standardized mean differences (SMDs). Risk of random error was assessed by applying trial sequential analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen studies (62,179 patients) were included. Preoperative cognitive impairment was associated with increased risk of delirium in older patients after cardiac surgery (70.0% vs 20.5%; OR, 8.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.25-16.38; I 2 , 0%; P < .00001). Cognitive impairment was associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS; SMD, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.20-0.51; I 2 , 22%; P < .00001) and intensive care unit (ICU) LOS (SMD, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.09-0.68; I 2 , 70%; P = .01). No significant association was seen for 30-day mortality (1.7% vs 1.1%; OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 0.64-10.44; I 2 , 55%; P = .18). CONCLUSIONS: In older patients undergoing cardiac surgery, cognitive impairment was associated with an 8-fold increased risk of delirium, a 5% increase in absolute risk of major postoperative bleeding, and an increase in hospital and ICU LOS by approximately 0.4 days. Further research on the feasibility of implementing routine neurocognitive testing is warranted.

The STOP-Bang questionnaire: A narrative review on its utilization in different populations and settings.

STUDY RATIONALE: Although the STOP-Bang questionnaire has been validated for its efficacy and diagnostic performance in various settings, there is no review that summarizes the pertinent evidence of the STOP-Bang questionnaire in the different populations. We aimed to review the evidence of the diagnostic performance of the STOP-Bang questionnaire, correlation between STOP-Bang scores and the probability of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and its clinical application in various populations. STUDY IMPACT: This review guides healthcare providers in the sleep medicine and perioperative medicine disciplines to be better informed when using the STOP-Bang questionnaire in the different populations. It provides a greater understanding for both patients and clinicians when making decisions regarding OSA screening for each population.

Changes in health-related quality of life in young-old and old-old patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: There is a significant gap in research exploring changes in postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients aged 65 years and older undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the variations in HRQoL improvement, as evaluated by patient-reported outcome measures following total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, and partial knee arthroplasty between the young-old and old-old adults. METHODS/DESIGN: We searched six online databases (including MEDLINE, Embase) from their inception dates to May 15, 2023. We included studies using a validated HRQoL assessment tool to evaluate changes in HRQoL in patients aged ≥65 years undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty. These include the EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D), Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Short Form 12 (SF-12). The primary outcomes were postoperative HRQoL changes between young-old (65-74 years) and old-old groups (≥75 years). The secondary outcomes included complications, length of stay, and mortality. RESULTS: The search yielded 12,229 articles; twelve studies (n = 103,613) were included. Studies using EQ-5D found no significant differences between young-old and old-old patients after hip and knee arthroplasty. Analyses of SF-36 and SF-12 scales showed no significant age-related differences in postoperative improvements in physical and mental health. Our review of four studies that included multivariable analyses revealed inconsistent associations between age and EQ-5D. Comparisons between the young-old and old-old age groups in postoperative complications, hospital length of stay, and mortality revealed no associated age-related changes in HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: The young-old and old-old patients exhibited comparable improvement in HRQoL following hip or knee arthroplasty. The older patients did not have higher postoperative complications rates, longer hospital length of stay, and increased mortality. While chronological age should be considered when planning hip and knee arthroplasty, greater emphasis should be placed on assessing the comorbidities and functional status of patients.

Prevalence of preoperative depression and adverse outcomes in older patients undergoing elective surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Depression is a common cause of long-lasting disability and preoperative mental health state that has important implications for optimizing recovery in the perioperative period. In older elective surgical patients, the prevalence of preoperative depression and associated adverse pre- and postoperative outcomes are unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of preoperative depression and the associated adverse outcomes in the older surgical population. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: MEDLINE, MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print and In-Process, In-Data-Review & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Embase/Embase Classic, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ClinicalTrials.Gov, the WHO ICTRP (International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) for relevant articles from 2000 to present. PATIENTS: Patients aged ≥65 years old undergoing non-cardiac elective surgery with preoperative depression assessed by tools validated in older adults. These validated tools include the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD). INTERVENTIONS: Preoperative assessment. MEASUREMENT: The primary outcome was the prevalence of preoperative depression. Additional outcomes included preoperative cognitive impairment, and postoperative outcomes such as delirium, functional decline, discharge disposition, readmission, length of stay, and postoperative complications. MAIN RESULTS: Thirteen studies (n = 2824) were included. Preoperative depression was most assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) (n = 12). The overall prevalence of preoperative depression was 23% (95% CI: 15%, 30%). Within non-cancer non-cardiac mixed surgery, the pooled prevalence was 19% (95% CI: 11%, 27%). The prevalence in orthopedic surgery was 17% (95% CI: 9%, 24%). In spine surgery, the prevalence was higher at 46% (95% CI: 28%, 64%). Meta-analysis showed that preoperative depression was associated with a two-fold increased risk of postoperative delirium than those without depression (32% vs 23%, OR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.67, 3.03; I2: 0%; P ≤0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of older surgical patients who suffered from depression was 23%. Preoperative depression was associated with a two-fold higher risk of postoperative delirium. Further work is needed to determine the need for depression screening and treatment preoperatively.

The utility of the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) in detecting cognitive impairment in surgical populations - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in detecting cognitive impairment (CI) and assess the association of MoCA scores with adverse postoperative outcomes in surgical populations. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: Perioperative setting. PATIENTS: Adults undergoing elective or emergent surgery screened for CI preoperatively using the MoCA. MEASUREMENTS: The outcomes included the diagnostic accuracy of the MoCA in screening for CI and the pooled prevalence of CI in various surgical populations. CI and its association with adverse events including delirium, hospital length-of-stay (LOS), postoperative complications, discharge destination, and mortality was determined. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-six studies (5059 patients, 18 non-cardiac studies, 8 cardiac studies) were included. With a MoCA cut-off score of <26, the prevalence of preoperative CI was 48% (95% CI: 41%-54%). The MoCA had 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79-0.93) sensitivity, 0.72 (95% CI: 0.62-0.80) specificity, PPV of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.65-0.81), and NPV of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.77-0.92) when validated against Petersen criteria, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association criteria to identify CI. Using the MoCA as a screening tool, the LOS was 3.75 (95% CI: -0.03-7.53, P = 0.05, not significant) days longer in the CI group after non-cardiac surgeries and 3.33 (95% CI: 1.24-5.41, P < 0.002) days longer after cardiac surgeries than the non-cognitively impaired group. CONCLUSIONS: MoCA had been validated in the surgical population. MoCA with a cut-off score of <26 was shown to have 87% sensitivity and 72% specificity in identifying CI. A positive screen in MoCA was associated with a 3-day longer hospital LOS in cardiac surgery in the CI group than in the non-CI group.

The diagnostic accuracy of the Mini-Cog screening tool for the detection of cognitive impairment-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Mini-Cog is a rapid screening tool that can be administered to older adults to detect cognitive impairment (CI); however, the accuracy of the Mini-Cog to detect CI for older patients in various healthcare settings is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Mini-Cog to screen for cognitive impairment in older patients across different healthcare settings. METHODS/DESIGN: We searched nine electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Embase) from inception to January 2023. We included studies with patients ≥60 years old undergoing screening for cognitive impairment using the Mini-Cog across all healthcare settings. A cut-off of ≤ 2/5 was used to classify dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and cognitive impairment (defined as either MCI or dementia) across various settings. The diagnostic accuracy of the Mini-Cog was assessed against gold standard references such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). A bivariate random-effects model was used to estimate accuracy and diagnostic ability. The risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2 criteria. RESULTS: The systematic search resulted in 4,265 articles and 14 studies were included for analysis. To detect dementia (six studies, n = 4772), the Mini-Cog showed 76% sensitivity and 83% specificity. To detect MCI (two studies, n = 270), it showed 84% sensitivity and 79% specificity. To detect CI (eight studies, n = 2152), it had 67% sensitivity and 83% specificity. In the primary care setting, to detect either MCI, dementia, or CI (eight studies, n = 5620), the Mini-Cog demonstrated 73% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Within the secondary care setting (seven studies, n = 1499), the Mini-Cog to detect MCI, dementia or CI demonstrated 73% sensitivity and 76% specificity. A high or unclear risk of bias persisted in the patient selection and timing domain. CONCLUSIONS: The Mini-Cog is a quick and freely available screening tool and has high sensitivity and specificity to screen for CI in older adults across various healthcare settings. It is a practical screening tool for use in time-sensitive and resource-limited healthcare settings.

Perioperative adverse events in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing ambulatory surgery: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The suitability of ambulatory surgery for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the odds of perioperative adverse events in patients with OSA undergoing ambulatory surgery, compared to patients without OSA. METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched for studies published between January 1, 2011 and July 11, 2023. The inclusion criteria were: adult patients with diagnosed or high-risk of OSA undergoing ambulatory surgery; perioperative adverse events; control group included; general and/or regional anesthesia; and publication on/after February 1, 2011. We calculated effect sizes as odds ratios using a random effects model, and additional sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Seventeen studies (375,389 patients) were included. OSA was associated with an increased odds of same-day admission amongst all surgery types (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.46-2.59, I2:79%, P < 0.00001, 11 studies, n = 347,342), as well as when only orthopedic surgery was considered (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.05-3.48, I2:41%, P < 0.00001, 6 studies, n = 132,473). Three studies reported that OSA was strongly associated with prolonged post anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS), while one study reported that the association was not statistically significant. In addition, four studies reported that OSA was associated with postoperative respiratory depression/hypoxia, with one large study on shoulder arthroscopy reporting an almost 5-fold increased odds of pulmonary compromise, 5-fold of myocardial infarction, 3-fold of acute renal failure, and 5-fold of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory surgical patients with OSA had almost two-fold higher odds of same-day admission compared to non-OSA patients. Multiple large studies also reported an association of OSA with prolonged PACU LOS, respiratory complications, and/or ICU admission. Clinicians should screen preoperatively for OSA, optimize comorbidities, adhere to clinical algorithm-based management perioperatively, and maintain a high degree of vigilance in the postoperative period.

The utility of remote cognitive screening tools in identifying cognitive impairment in older surgical patients: An observational cohort study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of suspected cognitive impairment using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cognitive question, Ascertain Dementia Eight-item Questionnaire (AD8), Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-M), and Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (T-MoCA), the agreement between each tool beyond chance, and the risk factors associated with a positive screen. DESIGN: Multicenter prospective study. SETTING: Remote preoperative assessments. PATIENTS: 307 non-cardiac surgical patients aged ≥65 years. MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence, Cohen's kappa (κ). MAIN RESULTS: The T-MoCA detected the highest prevalence of suspected cognitive impairment (28%), followed by the AD8 (17%), CDC cognitive question (9%), and TICS-M (6%). The four screening tools showed poor agreement beyond chance with one another, with the CDC cognitive question and AD8 approaching the threshold for weak agreement (κ = 0.39). Depression was associated with screening positive on the CDC cognitive question (OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.04, 7.68). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (OR: 3.10; 95% CI: 1.26, 7.71) and functional disability (OR: 3.74; 95% CI: 1.34, 11.11) were associated with a positive AD8 screen. Older age (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.41), male sex (OR: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.09, 9.40), and higher pain level (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.47) were associated with a positive TICS-M screen. Similarly, older age (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.73), male sex (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.83), and higher pain level (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.30) were associated with a positive T-MoCA screen. CONCLUSIONS: The CDC cognitive question, AD8, TICS-M, and T-MoCA were easily implemented during preoperative assessment among older surgical patients. OSA, functional disability, and depression were associated with complaints on the CDC cognitive question and AD8. Older age, male sex, and higher pain level were associated with screening positive on the TICS-M and T-MoCA. Early remote cognitive screening may enhance risk stratification of vulnerable patients.

Incidence of preoperative instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) dependence and adverse outcomes in older surgical patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are essential to patient function and quality of life after surgery. In older surgical patients, the incidence of preoperative IADL dependence has not been well characterized in the literature. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled incidence of preoperative IADL dependence and the associated adverse outcomes in the older surgical population. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: MEDLINE, MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print and In-Process, In-Data-Review & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Embase/Embase Classic, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ClinicalTrials.Gov, the WHO ICTRP (International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) were searched for relevant articles from 1969 to April 2022. PATIENTS: Patients aged ≥60 years old undergoing surgery with preoperative IADL assessed by the Lawton IADL Scale. INTERVENTIONS: Preoperative assessment. MEASUREMENT: The primary outcome was the pooled incidence of preoperative IADL dependency. Additional outcomes included post-operative mortality, postoperative delirium [POD], functional status improvement, and discharge disposition. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-one studies (n = 5690) were included. In non-cardiac surgeries, the pooled incidence of preoperative IADL dependence was 37% (95% CI: 26.0%, 48.0%) among 2909 patients. Within cardiac surgeries, the pooled incidence of preoperative IADL dependence was 53% (95% CI: 24.0%, 82.0%) among 1074 patients. Preoperative IADL dependence was associated with an increased risk of postoperative delirium than those without IADL dependence (44.9% vs 24.4, OR 2.26; 95% CI: 1.42, 3.59; I2: 0%; P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high incidence of IADL dependence in older surgical patients undergoing non-cardiac and cardiac surgery. Preoperative IADL dependence was associated with a two-fold risk of postoperative delirium. Further work is needed to determine the feasibility of using the IADL scale preoperatively as a predictive tool for postoperative adverse outcomes.

The prevalence and risk factors of sleep disturbances in surgical patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Determining the prevalence and risk factors related to sleep disturbance in surgical patients would be beneficial for risk stratification and perioperative care planning. The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to determine the prevalence and risk factors of sleep disturbances and their associated postoperative complications in surgical patients. The inclusion criteria were: (1) patients ≥18 years old undergoing a surgical procedure, (2) in-patient population, and (3) report of sleep disturbances using a validated sleep assessment tool. The systematic search resulted in 21,951 articles. Twelve patient cohorts involving 1497 patients were included. The pooled prevalence of sleep disturbances at preoperative assessment was 60% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 50%, 69%) and the risk factors for postoperative sleep disturbances were a high preoperative Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score indicating preexisting disturbed sleep and anxiety. Notably, patients with postoperative delirium had a higher prevalence of pre- and postoperative sleep disturbances and high preoperative wake after sleep onset percentage (WASO%). The high prevalence of preoperative sleep disturbances in surgical patients has a negative impact on postoperative outcomes and well-being. Further work in this area is warranted.

Association between postoperative delirium and adverse outcomes in older surgical patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of postoperative delirium and its outcomes in older non-cardiac surgical patients. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis with multiple databases searched from inception to February 22, 2022. SETTING: Postoperative assessments. PATIENTS: Non-cardiac and non-neurological surgical patients aged ≥60 years with and without postoperative delirium. Included studies must report ≥1 postoperative outcome. Studies with a small sample size (N < 100 subjects) were excluded. MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes comprised the pooled incidence of postoperative delirium and its postoperative outcomes, including mortality, complications, unplanned intensive care unit admissions, length of stay, and non-home discharge. For dichotomous and continuous outcomes, OR and difference in means were computed, respectively, with a 95% CI. MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-four studies (20,988 patients, 31 elective studies, 23 emergency studies) were included. The pooled incidence of postoperative delirium was 19% (95% CI: 16%, 23%) after elective surgery and 32% (95% CI: 25%, 39%) after emergency surgery. In elective surgery, postoperative delirium was associated with increased mortality at 1-month (OR: 6.60; 95% CI: 1.58, 27.66), 6-month (OR: 5.69; 95% CI: 2.33, 13.88), and 1-year (OR: 2.87; 95% CI: 1.63, 5.06). The odds of postoperative complications, unplanned intensive care unit admissions, prolonged length of hospital stay, and non-home discharge were also higher in delirium cases. In emergency surgery, patients with postoperative delirium had greater odds of mortality at 1-month (OR: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.77, 7.15), 6-month (OR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.88, 3.61), and 1-year (OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.77, 3.00). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative delirium was associated with higher odds of mortality, postoperative complications, unplanned intensive care unit admissions, length of hospital stay, and non-home discharge. Prevention and perioperative management of delirium may optimize surgical outcomes.

Diagnostic accuracy of Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire by participant and informant-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire (AD8) is a screening tool for cognitive impairment that can be administered to older persons and/or their informants. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and compare the predictive parameters of the informant and participant-completed Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire (iAD8 and pAD8, respectively) in older adults with cognitive impairment. METHODS/DESIGN: We searched ten electronic databases (including MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase) from tool inception to March 2022. We included studies with patients ≥60 years old that were screened for cognitive impairment using AD8 in any healthcare setting. Predictive parameters were assessed against reference standards to estimate accuracy and diagnostic ability using bivariate random-effects meta-analyses. We used QUADAS-2 criteria to assess risk of bias. RESULTS: A cut-off of ≥2/8 was used to classify mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and cognitive impairment (MCI or dementia). Seven studies using the iAD8 (n = 794) showed a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 79% to detect MCI. Nine studies using the iAD8 (n = 2393) established 91% sensitivity and 64% specificity to detect dementia. To detect MCI using the pAD8, four studies (n = 836) showed 57% sensitivity and 71% specificity. To detect dementia using the pAD8, four studies (n = 3015) demonstrated 82% sensitivity and 75% specificity. Recurring high or unclear risk of bias was noted in the domains of "Index test" and "reference standard". CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic accuracy of iAD8 is superior to that of pAD8 when screening for cognitive impairment. The AD8 may be an acceptable alternative to screen for cognitive impairment in older adults when there are limitations to formal testing.

Postoperative outcomes in older surgical patients with preoperative cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of cognitive impairment (CI) and dementia on adverse outcomes in older surgical patients. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Various databases were searched from their inception dates to March 8, 2021. SETTING: Preoperative assessment. PATIENTS: Older patients (≥ 60 years) undergoing non-cardiac surgery. MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes included postoperative delirium, mortality, discharge to assisted care, 30-day readmissions, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. Effect sizes were calculated as Odds Ratio (OR) and Mean Difference (MD) based on random effect model analysis. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk Bias Tool for RCTs and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational cohort studies. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies (196,491 patients) were included. Preoperative CI was associated with a significant risk of delirium in older patients after non-cardiac surgery (25.1% vs. 10.3%; OR: 3.84; 95%CI: 2.35, 6.26; I2: 76%; p < 0.00001). Cognitive impairment (26.2% vs. 13.2%; OR: 2.28; 95%CI: 1.39, 3.74; I2: 73%; p = 0.001) and dementia (41.6% vs. 25.5%; OR: 1.96; 95%CI: 1.34, 2.88; I2: 99%; p = 0.0006) significantly increased risk for 1-year mortality. In patients with CI, there was an increased risk of discharge to assisted care (44.7% vs. 38.3%; OR 1.74; 95%CI: 1.05, 2.89, p = 0.03), 30-day readmissions (14.3% vs. 10.8%; OR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.00, 1.84, p = 0.05), and postoperative complications (40.7% vs. 18.8%; OR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.37, 2.49; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CI in older surgical patients significantly increases risk of delirium, 1-year mortality, discharge to assisted care, 30-day readmission, and postoperative complications. Dementia increases the risk of 1-year mortality. Cognitive screening in the preoperative assessment for older surgical patients may be helpful for risk stratification so that appropriate management can be implemented to mitigate adverse postoperative outcomes.