Introduction. Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) affects approximately 50–67% of patients shortly after cardiac surgery. POCD is characterized by impairments in cognitive functions, and its etiology is multifactorial (Vedel et al., 2019). Early detection through neuropsychological assessment is crucial but still under-researched (Glumac et al., 2021). This project aimed to design and implement a neuropsychological assessment for early POCD detection following cardiac surgery. Methods. A neuropsychological protocol was developed and administered to 45 cardiac surgery patients (36 males, 9 females; mean age = 59.5; SD = 12; mean education = 17 years; SD = 5.6), recruited from IRCCS “San Raffaele” in Rome. Using SPSS software, we conducted descriptive statistics to profile cognitive performance and correlation analyses to identify connections with clinical data. Moreover, a Severity Index (SI) was created based on three clinical factors. Additional correlations examined links between psychological symptoms and neuropsychological outcomes. Results. Patients showed the worst performance in the Digit Span Forward (82.2% impaired) and Digit Span Backward (75.6%) tests. The SI did not correlate with any neuropsychological and emotional (DASS-21) score. However, performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test was significantly associated with hypertension (p = 0.033), and performance on the Clock Drawing Test was linked to valve type (p = 0.007). Rey’s Immediate Recall scores were negatively associated with DASS-21 depression scores (p = 0.022) and positively with SF-21 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score (p = 0.047). Semantic fluency was negatively correlated with DASS-21 depression scores (p = 0.036), DASS-21 anxiety score (p = 0.031), DASS-21 total score (p = 0.033), and positively with MCS score (p = 0.009). Discussion. These results highlight a cognitive pattern of deficits in memory, attention and Executive Functions in these patients. Findings suggest hypertension and valve replacement involving heart bypass may contribute to cognitive decline.
POCD Heart-Brain complications: a neuropsychological and psychological assessment of outcomes following cardio-surgery PRIN 2022 (2022PEK8YY) / Tropea, A.; Tessari, G.; Marcolongo, F.; Guariglia, C.; Giannini, A. M.; Pecchinenda, A.; Volterrani, M.. - (2025). (Intervento presentato al convegno Riunione Autunnale della Società Italiana di Neuropsicologia (SINP) tenutosi a Bologna).
POCD Heart-Brain complications: a neuropsychological and psychological assessment of outcomes following cardio-surgery PRIN 2022 (2022PEK8YY)
Tropea A.;Tessari G.;Marcolongo F.;Guariglia C.;Giannini A. M.;Pecchinenda A.;
2025
Abstract
Introduction. Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) affects approximately 50–67% of patients shortly after cardiac surgery. POCD is characterized by impairments in cognitive functions, and its etiology is multifactorial (Vedel et al., 2019). Early detection through neuropsychological assessment is crucial but still under-researched (Glumac et al., 2021). This project aimed to design and implement a neuropsychological assessment for early POCD detection following cardiac surgery. Methods. A neuropsychological protocol was developed and administered to 45 cardiac surgery patients (36 males, 9 females; mean age = 59.5; SD = 12; mean education = 17 years; SD = 5.6), recruited from IRCCS “San Raffaele” in Rome. Using SPSS software, we conducted descriptive statistics to profile cognitive performance and correlation analyses to identify connections with clinical data. Moreover, a Severity Index (SI) was created based on three clinical factors. Additional correlations examined links between psychological symptoms and neuropsychological outcomes. Results. Patients showed the worst performance in the Digit Span Forward (82.2% impaired) and Digit Span Backward (75.6%) tests. The SI did not correlate with any neuropsychological and emotional (DASS-21) score. However, performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test was significantly associated with hypertension (p = 0.033), and performance on the Clock Drawing Test was linked to valve type (p = 0.007). Rey’s Immediate Recall scores were negatively associated with DASS-21 depression scores (p = 0.022) and positively with SF-21 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score (p = 0.047). Semantic fluency was negatively correlated with DASS-21 depression scores (p = 0.036), DASS-21 anxiety score (p = 0.031), DASS-21 total score (p = 0.033), and positively with MCS score (p = 0.009). Discussion. These results highlight a cognitive pattern of deficits in memory, attention and Executive Functions in these patients. Findings suggest hypertension and valve replacement involving heart bypass may contribute to cognitive decline.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
