Postoperative Cognitive Decline in Older Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Preoperative Mild Cognitive Impairment

The study examined cognitive outcomes in 22 older patients with cardiovascular disease (age ≥65 years) and 25 controls during 12 months after surgery. Half of the patients met criteria for postoperative mild cognitive impairment, with its prevalence remaining stable (45.5% before surgery and 50% after surgery). Patients with preoperative cognitive impairment showed decline in working memory, executive functions, visual memory, and naming, while patients without preoperative impairment experienced decline only in verbal memory. Estimated IQ, APACHE-II score, and postoperative frailty were important factors predicting postoperative outcomes. The results suggest that preoperative neuropsychological assessment is valuable for identifying the risk of cognitive decline in older patients with cardiovascular disease.