Preop cognitive impairment linked to postop cognitive dysfunction after total hip

Patients with preexisting cognitive impairment have an increased incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction and cognitive decline after hip replacement, finds a study. The study included 300 total hip patients and 51 nonsurgical controls.

Preoperative cognitive impairment was identified in 32% of patients. It was found to be a good predictor of cognitive dysfunction at 3 months and 1 year and cognitive decline at 1 year after surgery.

Identifying early decline in cognitive function is now routine in geriatric care and an accepted way to identify future cognitive decline. The current findings suggest that preoperative cognitive impairment may similarly predict cognitive decline following surgical intervention, the researchers note.

Access the study published in the June Anesthesiology.