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Is there a relationship between anaesthesia and dementia?

Strand, Anna-Karin ; Nyqvist, Fredrik ; Ekdahl, Anne LU orcid ; Wingren, Gun and Eintrei, Christina (2019) In Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 63(4). p.440-447
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Long-term cognitive problems are common among elderly patients after surgery, and it has been suggested that inhalation anaesthetics play a role in the development of dementia. This study aims to investigate the hypothesis that patients with dementia have been more exposed to surgery and inhalational anaesthetics than individuals without dementia.

METHODS: Using 457 cases from a dementia-registry and 420 dementia-free controls, we performed a retrospective case-control study. The medical records were reviewed to determine exposure to anaesthesia occurring within a 20-year timeframe before the diagnosis or inclusion in the study. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression and propensity score... (More)

BACKGROUND: Long-term cognitive problems are common among elderly patients after surgery, and it has been suggested that inhalation anaesthetics play a role in the development of dementia. This study aims to investigate the hypothesis that patients with dementia have been more exposed to surgery and inhalational anaesthetics than individuals without dementia.

METHODS: Using 457 cases from a dementia-registry and 420 dementia-free controls, we performed a retrospective case-control study. The medical records were reviewed to determine exposure to anaesthesia occurring within a 20-year timeframe before the diagnosis or inclusion in the study. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression and propensity score analysis.

RESULTS: Advanced age (70 years and older, with the highest risk in ages 80-84 years) and previous head trauma were risk factors for dementia. History of exposure to surgery with anaesthesia was a risk factor for dementia (OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.66-3.00, P < 0.01). Exposure to inhalational anaesthetics with halogenated anaesthetics was associated with an increased risk of dementia, compared to no exposure to anaesthesia (OR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.17-5.22, P = 0.02). Exposure to regional anaesthesia was not significantly associated with increased risk of dementia (P = 0.13).

CONCLUSION: In this 20-year retrospective case-control study, we found a potential association between dementia and prior anaesthesia. Exposure to general anaesthetics with halogenated anaesthetic gases was associated with an increased risk of dementia.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
volume
63
issue
4
pages
440 - 447
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85058028192
  • pmid:30511411
ISSN
0001-5172
DOI
10.1111/aas.13302
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7b0ae411-5790-4f3a-861f-19a6efa4ac37
date added to LUP
2018-12-11 13:34:15
date last changed
2024-10-01 12:19:14
@article{7b0ae411-5790-4f3a-861f-19a6efa4ac37,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Long-term cognitive problems are common among elderly patients after surgery, and it has been suggested that inhalation anaesthetics play a role in the development of dementia. This study aims to investigate the hypothesis that patients with dementia have been more exposed to surgery and inhalational anaesthetics than individuals without dementia.</p><p>METHODS: Using 457 cases from a dementia-registry and 420 dementia-free controls, we performed a retrospective case-control study. The medical records were reviewed to determine exposure to anaesthesia occurring within a 20-year timeframe before the diagnosis or inclusion in the study. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression and propensity score analysis.</p><p>RESULTS: Advanced age (70 years and older, with the highest risk in ages 80-84 years) and previous head trauma were risk factors for dementia. History of exposure to surgery with anaesthesia was a risk factor for dementia (OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.66-3.00, P &lt; 0.01). Exposure to inhalational anaesthetics with halogenated anaesthetics was associated with an increased risk of dementia, compared to no exposure to anaesthesia (OR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.17-5.22, P = 0.02). Exposure to regional anaesthesia was not significantly associated with increased risk of dementia (P = 0.13).</p><p>CONCLUSION: In this 20-year retrospective case-control study, we found a potential association between dementia and prior anaesthesia. Exposure to general anaesthetics with halogenated anaesthetic gases was associated with an increased risk of dementia.</p>}},
  author       = {{Strand, Anna-Karin and Nyqvist, Fredrik and Ekdahl, Anne and Wingren, Gun and Eintrei, Christina}},
  issn         = {{0001-5172}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{440--447}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica}},
  title        = {{Is there a relationship between anaesthesia and dementia?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aas.13302}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/aas.13302}},
  volume       = {{63}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}