Assessing the feasibility of using the Dalhousie Computerized Attention Battery to measure postoperative cognitive dysfunction in older patients

Abstract

Purpose Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is difficult to predict and diagnose, and can have severe consequences in the long term. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a computerised test battery, the Dalhousie Computerized Assessment Battery in the perioperative clinic to detect cognitive changes after surgery. Methods Fifty patients were recruited for this study. Patients completed the Dalhousie Computerized Assessment Battery and tests of general cognition, mood and pain at baseline and at three months postoperatively. Results This pilot study had a screening rate (85.4%) and low attrition rate (12%). At baseline, patients exhibited no significant cognitive differences compared to a normative dataset. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction incidence was 2.7% on Montreal Cognitive Assessment, 13.6% with Dalhousie Computerized Assessment Battery and 36.3% based on subjective reports. Conclusion Computerised cognitive testing in the perioperative setting proved feasible. Deficits in spatial working memory and dual tasks may be most compromised by surgically related variables.

How do we measure attention? Using factor analysis to establish construct validity of neuropsychological tests

“…Similarly, the paper describing the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery Executive Function and Attention components has been cited in 244 papers as of early 2021. The Dalhousie battery has not had much time to gain traction; we could only find two non-methodological papers that had cited it (Cunningham et al, 2018 ; Sardiwalla et al, 2019 ). However, none of the three batteries showed up in our survey of meta-analyses of cancer-related cognitive impairment (Horowitz et al, 2019 ), or in a survey of practicing clinical neuropsychologists (Rabin et al, 2016 ).…”

The Association between Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Cerebral Oximetry during Geriatric Orthopedic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study

“…Moderate hypoxia can cause a decline in the function of brain's cholinergic nervous system and affect the release of central neurotransmitters in the brain, thus damaging brain's function. Therefore, intraoperative low cerebral oxygen saturation or cerebral blood perfusion is one of the causes of POCD in patients undergoing surgery [ 32 ]. Therefore, this study further analyzes the relationship between cerebral oxygen saturation and postoperative cognitive function.…”