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Subtle deficits of attention after surgery: Quantifying indicator of sub syndrome delirium

Lowery, David, Wesnes, Keith, Brewster, Nigel, Ballard, Clive G. (2010) Subtle deficits of attention after surgery: Quantifying indicator of sub syndrome delirium. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25 (10). pp. 945-952. ISSN 0885-6230. (doi:10.1002/gps.2430) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:36506)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gps.2430

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether attentional impairments are reliable neuropsychological markers of sub syndrome delirium.

METHOD:

A prospective cohort study with repeated assessment beginning pre-operatively and continuing through the first post-operative week. Computerized assessments of attention and the Mini-Mental State Examination were administered with one hundred patients admitted for elective orthopedic surgery, 70 years and over and free of dementia. Acute change of cognitive status was used to identify cases of sub syndrome delirium.

RESULTS:

There were significant differences of post-surgical performance between the 'no delirium' and 'sub-syndrome delirium' groups of reaction time, global cognition, accuracy and greater variability of reaction time (p < 0.041). There were significant within subject main effects on reaction time (p = 0.001), variability of reaction time (p = 0.022) and MMSE (p = 0.000) across the cohort; but no significant interaction effect of 'diagnosis' * 'time' on the computerized measures of attention (p > 0.195).

CONCLUSION:

The distinction between people with sub syndrome delirium and no delirium is difficult to quantify but computerized measures of attention might provide a sensitive indicator. Sub syndrome delirium is an observable marker of a clinical abnormality that should be exploited to improve care management for vulnerable patients.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/gps.2430
Uncontrolled keywords: acute confusion;attention deficits;dementia;sub syndrome delirium;surgery
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Tony Rees
Date Deposited: 15 Nov 2013 15:42 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:13 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/36506 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Lowery, David.

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