The role of perceived stress and cognitive function on the relationship between neuroticism and depression among the elderly: a structural equation model approach.

BACKGROUND: Depression comprises common psychological problems, and has been strongly related to neuroticism and perceived stress. While neuroticism has been shown to have a direct effect on depression, it also has an indirect effect via perceived stress. Among the elderly, cognitive function produces influences that should not be overlooked when investigating depression. This study aimed to determine the role of mediating effects of perceived stress as well as cognitive function on neuroticism and depression among elderly patients. METHODS: This research constituted a secondary analysis, with data collected during the pre-operative period of 429 elderly individuals undergoing elective, noncardiac surgery. The evaluation included the Perceived Stress Scale, the Neuroticism Inventory, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the hypothesized model. RESULTS: Neuroticism exhibited a significant indirect effect on perceived stress via depression and cognition (ß = 0.162, 95% CI 0.026, 0.322, p = .002). Neuroticism initially had a direct effect on depression (ß = 0.766, 95% CI 0.675, 0.843 p = 0.003); thereafter, it was reduced after covariates were added (ß = 0.557, 95% CI 0.432, 0.668 p = 0.002). Based on this model, the total variance explained by this model was 67%, and the model showed an acceptable fit with the data. CONCLUSIONS: Both perceived stress and cognitive function partially mediated the effect of neuroticism on depression, with perceived stress exhibiting a greater effect. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol has been registered at Clinicaltrials.gov under registered number: NCT02131181.

Role of perceived stress in postoperative delirium: an investigation among elderly patients.

Objectives: This study examined levels of perceived stress (PS), postoperative delirium (POD) and associated factors among Thai elderly patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery.Background and aims: Preoperative PS and change after operation have not been widely studied. Moreover, psychological factors associated with PS and POD has been poorly investigated.Materials and Methods: In total, 429 elderly patients were recruited at a university hospital. The preoperative evaluation included sociodemographic data, health behaviors at risk, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Neuroticism Inventory (NI), Mental State Examination T10 (MSET10), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Three-day postoperative evaluation included PSS-10 and Confusion Assessment Method Algorithm (CAM) or CAM-ICU for Delirium. Multiple regression and logistic regression analysis were performed to determine potential predictors.Results: Females were 58.97%, and the mean age was 69.93 ± 6.87 years. Mean pre- and postoperative PS were 12.77 ± 5.41 and 13.39 ± 5.26, respectively (P < 0.05). Multiple regression revealed that neuroticism, depression, and BMI predicted PS significantly. None of the independent variables was found to predict postoperative PS except for preoperative PS (p <.001). POD at the recovery room was predicted by preoperative PS (odds ratio = 1.181, 95% CI = 1.019-1.369), whereas overall POD was predicted by MoCA (odds ratio = .864, 95% CI = .771 -.968).Conclusion: Preoperative PS was significant in that it was associated with postoperative PS and POD. A careful assessment of preoperative PS as well as providing brief interventions for patients with high levels of this condition may reduce the risk of POD.

Care Bundles to Improve Hemoperfusion Performance in Patients with Severe COVID-19: A Retrospective Study.

Background/Objectives: Hemoperfusion (HP) is employed to modulate cytokine storms in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, requiring careful attention for success and safety. Therefore, we investigated whether our care bundles could enhance HP performance. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on adult patients (≥20 years old) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. In the first wave (Phase I), we identified HP-related issues and addressed them with care bundles in the second wave (Phase II). The care bundles included early temperature control, precise hemodynamic monitoring, and clot prevention measures for the HP membrane. The HP success rate and associated adverse events (AEs) were assessed between the two phases. Results: The study included 60 HP (HA330) sessions from 27 cases (Phase I: 21 sessions from 9 cases; Phase II: 39 sessions from 18 cases). Patient characteristics and treatments for COVID-19 were similar, except for baseline body temperature (BT) and heart rate (HR). Phase II showed a higher success rate (67% vs. 89%, p = 0.19), although it did not reach statistical significance. Phase I recorded a significantly higher frequency of AEs (3 [IQR 1, 4] events/case vs. 1 [IQR 0, 2] events/case, p = 0.014). After implementing the care bundles, hypothermia significantly decreased (78% vs. 33%, p = 0.037), with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.15; 95% CI 0.02-0.95, p = 0.044 for baseline BT. Conclusions: Further exploration with a larger sample size is required to establish the advantages of care bundles. However, the bundles' implementation has significantly improved hypothermia prevention.

Long-term outcomes of delirium in critically ill surgical patients: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the mortality rates and dependency rate (functional outcomes) of delirious patients at 12-months after surgical intensive care unit (SICU) admission and to determine the independent risk factors of 12-months mortality and dependency rate in a cohort of SICU patients. METHODS: A prospective, multi-center study was conducted in 3 university-based hospitals. Critically-ill surgical patients who were admitted to SICU and followed-up at 12-months after ICU admission were enrolled. RESULTS: A total of 630 eligible patients were recruited. 170 patients (27%) had postoperative delirium (POD). The overall 12-months mortality rate in this cohort was 25.2%. Delirium group showed significantly higher mortality rates than non-delirium group at 12-months after ICU admission (44.1% vs 18.3%, P < 0.001). Independent risk factors of 12-months mortality were age, diabetes mellitus, preoperative dementia, high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and POD. POD was associated with 12-months mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.15; P = 0.032). The dependency rate defined as the Basic Activities Daily Living (B-ADL) ≤70 was 52%. Independent risk factors of B-ADL were age ≥ 75 years, cardiac disease, preoperative dementia, intraoperative hypotension, on mechanical ventilator and POD. POD was associated with dependency rate at 12-months. (adjusted risk ratio, 1.26; 95%CI 1.04-1.53; P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative delirium was an independent risk factor of death and was also associated with dependent state at 12 months after a surgical intensive care unit admission in critically ill surgical patients.

Validation of a delirium predictive model in patients admitted to surgical intensive care units: a multicentre prospective observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To internally and externally validate a delirium predictive model for adult patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) following surgery. DESIGN: A prospective, observational, multicentre study. SETTING: Three university-affiliated teaching hospitals in Thailand. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged over 18 years were enrolled if they were admitted to a surgical ICU (SICU) and had the surgery within 7 days before SICU admission. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative delirium was assessed using the Thai version of the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. The assessments commenced on the first day after the patient's operation and continued for 7 days, or until either discharge from the ICU or the death of the patient. Validation was performed of the previously developed delirium predictive model: age+(5×SOFA)+(15×benzodiazepine use)+(20×DM)+(20×mechanical ventilation)+(20×modified IQCODE>3.42). RESULTS: In all, 380 SICU patients were recruited. Internal validation on 150 patients with the mean age of 75±7.5 years resulted in an area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.76 (0.683 to 0.837). External validation on 230 patients with the mean age of 57±17.3 years resulted in an AUROC of 0.85 (0.789 to 0.906). The AUROC of all validation cohorts was 0.83 (0.785 to 0.872). The optimum cut-off value to discriminate between a high and low probability of postoperative delirium in SICU patients was 115. This cut-off offered the highest value for Youden's index (0.50), the best AUROC, and the optimum values for sensitivity (78.9%) and specificity (70.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The model developed by the previous study was able to predict the occurrence of postoperative delirium in critically ill surgical patients admitted to SICUs. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Thai Clinical Trail Registry (TCTR20180105001).

Risk factors and adverse clinical outcomes of postoperative delirium in Thai elderly patients: A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence, risk factors, and adverse clinical outcomes of postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 429 patients scheduled to undergo noncardiac surgery were recruited. Delirium was assessed using the confusion assessment method. FINDINGS: The incidence of POD was 5.4%. Risk factors of POD were age over 70 years, an American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status 2 and 3, cognitive impairment, history of psychiatric illness, and preoperative hemoglobin ≤ 10 g/dl. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The correction of modifiable risk factors, the use of preventive strategies, and the monitoring of POD are advisable to improve the quality of perioperative care.

Validity and reliability of the Thai version of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU).

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Thai version of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), when compared to the diagnoses made by delirium experts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in both surgical intensive care and subintensive care units in Thailand between February-June 2011. Seventy patients aged 60 years or older who had been admitted to the units were enrolled into the study within the first 48 hours of admission. Each patient was randomly assessed as to whether they had delirium by a nurse using the Thai version of the CAM-ICU algorithm (Thai CAM-ICU) or by a delirium expert using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. RESULTS: The prevalence of delirium was found to be 18.6% (n=13) by the delirium experts. The sensitivity of the Thai CAM-ICU's algorithms was found to be 92.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] =64.0%-99.8%), while the specificity was 94.7% (95% CI =85.4%-98.9%). The instrument displayed good interrater reliability (Cohen's κ =0.81; 95% CI =0.64-0.99). The time taken to complete the Thai CAM-ICU was 1 minute (interquatile range, 1-2 minutes). CONCLUSION: The Thai CAM-ICU demonstrated good validity, reliability, and ease of use when diagnosing delirium in a surgical intensive care unit setting. The use of this diagnostic tool should be encouraged for daily, routine use, so as to promote the early detection of delirium and its rapid treatment.