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Subtle deficits of attention after surgery: quantifying indicators of sub syndrome delirium

Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Lowery, Dr Clive Ballard

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Abstract

Objective: To determine whether attentional impairments are reliable neuropsychological markers of sub syndrome delirium. Method: A prospective cohort study with repeated assessment beginning pre-operatively and continuing through the first post-operative week. Computerized assessments of attention and the Mini-Mental State Examination were administered with one hundred patients admitted for elective orthopedic surgery, 70 years and over and free of dementia. Acute change of cognitive status was used to identify cases of sub syndrome delirium. Results: There were significant differences of post-surgical performance between the 'no delirium' and 'sub-syndrome delirium' groups of reaction time, global cognition, accuracy and greater variability of reaction time (p < 0.041). There were significant within subject main effects on reaction time (p = 0.001), variability of reaction time (p = 0.022) and MMSE (p = 0.000) across the cohort; but no significant interaction effect of 'diagnosis' * 'time' on the computerized measures of attention (p > 0.195). Conclusion: The distinction between people with sub syndrome delirium and no delirium is difficult to quantify but computerized measures of attention might provide a sensitive indicator. Sub syndrome delirium is an observable marker of a clinical abnormality that should be exploited to improve care management for vulnerable patients. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Lowery DP, Wesnes K, Brewster N, Ballard C

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

Year: 2010

Volume: 25

Issue: 10

Pages: 945-952

Print publication date: 06/01/2010

ISSN (print): 0885-6230

ISSN (electronic): 1099-1166

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gps.2430

DOI: 10.1002/gps.2430


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