title: The Impact of High Versus Low Sedation Dosing Strategy on Cognitive Dysfunction in Survivors of Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The practice of low vs. high sedation dosing strategy may impact the cognitive and mental health function in the intensive care unit (ICU). We aim to demonstrate that high sedation strategy will result in change of mental health function in ICU patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a systemic search and meta-analysis of medical databases in MEDLINE (from 1966 to March 2013) and EMBASE (from 1980 to March 2013), as well as the Cochrane Library using the MESH terms "Intensive Care Unit," and "Mental Health, for assessing the impact of sedation on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety/depression and delirium in the mix ICU setting including cardiac surgery patients. A total of 1216 patients were included in the final analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 11 studies in the final analysis and concluded that high dose sedation strategy resulted in higher incidence of cognitive dysfunction with P value of 0.009. The result for subgroup of delirium showed P = 0.11 and PTSD/depression or anxiety of P = 0.001, Heterogeneity I2 was 64%. Overall analysis was statistically significant with a P value of 0.002.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High sedation dosing strategy will negatively affect cognitive function in critically ill patients. Large randomized trials are needed to address cognitive dysfunction in subgroup of patients with delirium.
authors.affiliation: VA Western New York Healthcare System, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Jahan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Porhomayon
authors.affiliation: VA Western New York Healthcare System, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joude
authors.affiliation: Monroe College, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Ghazaleh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adlparvar
authors.affiliation: VA Western New York Healthcare System, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Solh
authors.affiliation: VA Western New York Healthcare System, Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Nader D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Nader
keywords: Cognitive Function; Delirium; Depression; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Sedation