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The cognitive effects of acute postoperative delirium can extend beyond the acute episode in older patients, but what about long-term adverse effects? To find out, researchers performed extended follow-up of participants in a cohort study that involved 560 adults (age, >70) who underwent major elective surgery (80% orthopedic procedures). Previous investigation showed that 134 patients who developed postoperative delirium had significantly greater cognitive decline at 36 months than did patients without delirium. Now, researchers present cognitive outcomes at 72 months.
In adjusted analysis, cognitive decline (based on serial neuropsychological testing during the 72-month follow-up period) was 40% faster in patients who developed delirium th…