Association between frailty and delirium after cardiac surgery

Editor's Note

In this study, preoperative frailty was associated with a high risk for delirium after cardiac surgery.

Of 55 patients included in the analysis, the prevalence of frailty was 30.9%. Frail patient had a higher incidence of delirium (47.1%) compared with nonfrail patients (2.6%).

Frailty may be used to identify patients who would benefit from delirium prevention strategies, the authors say.

Delirium is common after cardiac surgery, and preoperative identification of high-risk patients could guide prevention strategies. We prospectively measured frailty in 55 patients before cardiac surgery and assessed postoperative delirium using a validated chart review. The prevalence of frailty was 30.9%. Frail patients had a higher incidence of delirium (47.1%) compared with nonfrail patients (2.6%; P < 0.001).