title: Preoperative Cognitive Performance Dominates Risk for Delirium Among Older Adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive impairment is a well-recognized risk factor for delirium. Our goal was to determine whether the level of cognitive performance across the nondemented cognitive ability spectrum is correlated with delirium risk and to gauge the importance of cognition relative to other known risk factors for delirium.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Successful Aging after Elective Surgery study enrolled 566 adults aged ≥70 years scheduled for major surgery. Patients were assessed preoperatively and daily during hospitalization for the occurrence of delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method. Cognitive function was assessed preoperatively with an 11-test neuropsychological battery combined into a composite score for general cognitive performance (GCP). We examined the risk for delirium attributable to GCP, as well as demographic factors, vocabulary ability, and informant-rated cognitive decline, and compared the strength of association with risk factors identified in a previously published delirium prediction rule for delirium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Delirium occurred in 135 (24%) patients. Lower GCP score was strongly and linearly predictive of delirium risk (relative risk = 2.0 per each half standard deviation difference in GCP score, 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.5). This effect was not attenuated by statistical adjustment for demographics, vocabulary ability, and informant-rated cognitive decline. The effect was stronger than, and largely independent from, both standard delirium risk factors and comorbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk of delirium is linearly and strongly related to presurgical cognitive performance level even at levels above the population median, which would be considered unimpaired.
authors.affiliation: 1 Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Richard N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: 2 Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Marcantonio
authors.affiliation: 3 Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jane S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Saczynski
authors.affiliation: 1 Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tommet
authors.affiliation: 4 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Alden L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: 5 Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Travison
authors.affiliation: 2 Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Alsop
authors.affiliation: 5 Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.affiliation: 2 Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: 1 Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Sevdenur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cizginer
authors.affiliation: 2 Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Mouhsin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shafi
authors.affiliation: 2 Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascual-Leone
authors.affiliation: 2 Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.|5 Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Inouye
keywords: cognitive impairment; delirium; epidemiology