Preoperative Cognitive Screening Predicts Postoperative Ambulatory Recovery: A Pilot Study

Jake L Cotton,1 Chiagoziem Anigbogu,1 Jennifer E Stevens-Lapsley,2 Hillary D Lum,3 Yi Su,4 Michael Bronsert5 ,† Thomas N Robinson,1 Jessica Y Rove6 1Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 2Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehab...

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Main Authors: Cotton JL, Anigbogu C, Stevens-Lapsley JE, Lum HD, Su Y, Bronsert M, Robinson TN, Rove JY
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:Clinical Interventions in Aging
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/preoperative-cognitive-screening-predicts-postoperative-ambulatory-rec-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CIA
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author Cotton JL
Anigbogu C
Stevens-Lapsley JE
Lum HD
Su Y
Bronsert M
Robinson TN
Rove JY
author_facet Cotton JL
Anigbogu C
Stevens-Lapsley JE
Lum HD
Su Y
Bronsert M
Robinson TN
Rove JY
author_sort Cotton JL
collection DOAJ
description Jake L Cotton,1 Chiagoziem Anigbogu,1 Jennifer E Stevens-Lapsley,2 Hillary D Lum,3 Yi Su,4 Michael Bronsert5 ,† Thomas N Robinson,1 Jessica Y Rove6 1Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 2Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; 3Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 4University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 5Surgical Outcomes and Applied Research Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 6Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA†Michael Bronsert passed away in October 2024Correspondence: Jessica Y Rove, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO, C310, USA, Email jessica.rove@cuanschutz.eduPurpose: Cardiac surgery patients are older adults at risk for postoperative physical impairment. We hypothesize that screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) may identify patients at risk for delayed physical recovery.Patients and Methods: This is a single center prospective cohort pilot study of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Patients were screened preoperatively for MCI using the MoCA full version 8.1, with scores < 26 defined as a positive screen for MCI. Daily step count, as a practical measure of physical function, was continuously recorded from the preoperative period (baseline) through postoperative day 50 using a commercially available activity tracker.Results: Eighteen patients met inclusion criteria. Eight (44%) screened positive for MCI and 10 (56%) screened non-impaired (NI). Baseline characteristics and operative outcomes were similar between the MCI and NI cohorts. The MCI cohort did not achieve their preoperative daily step count by postoperative day 50, whereas the NI cohort did so by postoperative day 37. There was a difference in median [IQR] postoperative daily step count (MCI: 3662[2292– 5704] vs NI: 4497[2532– 9216]; p < 0.001).Conclusion: In a cohort of patients older than 60 undergoing cardiac surgery, a preoperative screen for MCI delayed postoperative physical recovery. A brief preoperative cognitive screen tool may identify patients who could benefit from early intervention for recovery of physical function.Keywords: ambulation, postoperative recovery, cardiac surgery, cognitive impairment, MoCA
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spelling doaj-art-a0a53cbd5b5e4a9eb239273b69452c3b2025-08-20T03:55:53ZengDove Medical PressClinical Interventions in Aging1178-19982025-07-01Volume 20Issue 110631069105022Preoperative Cognitive Screening Predicts Postoperative Ambulatory Recovery: A Pilot StudyCotton JL0Anigbogu C1Stevens-Lapsley JE2Lum HD3Su Y4Bronsert M5Robinson TN6Rove JY7Department of SurgeryDepartment of SurgeryPhysical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationDivision of Geriatric Medicine, Department of MedicineUniversity of Colorado School of MedicineSurgical Outcomes and Applied Research ProgramDepartment of SurgerySurgeryJake L Cotton,1 Chiagoziem Anigbogu,1 Jennifer E Stevens-Lapsley,2 Hillary D Lum,3 Yi Su,4 Michael Bronsert5 ,† Thomas N Robinson,1 Jessica Y Rove6 1Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 2Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; 3Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 4University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 5Surgical Outcomes and Applied Research Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 6Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA†Michael Bronsert passed away in October 2024Correspondence: Jessica Y Rove, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO, C310, USA, Email jessica.rove@cuanschutz.eduPurpose: Cardiac surgery patients are older adults at risk for postoperative physical impairment. We hypothesize that screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) may identify patients at risk for delayed physical recovery.Patients and Methods: This is a single center prospective cohort pilot study of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Patients were screened preoperatively for MCI using the MoCA full version 8.1, with scores < 26 defined as a positive screen for MCI. Daily step count, as a practical measure of physical function, was continuously recorded from the preoperative period (baseline) through postoperative day 50 using a commercially available activity tracker.Results: Eighteen patients met inclusion criteria. Eight (44%) screened positive for MCI and 10 (56%) screened non-impaired (NI). Baseline characteristics and operative outcomes were similar between the MCI and NI cohorts. The MCI cohort did not achieve their preoperative daily step count by postoperative day 50, whereas the NI cohort did so by postoperative day 37. There was a difference in median [IQR] postoperative daily step count (MCI: 3662[2292– 5704] vs NI: 4497[2532– 9216]; p < 0.001).Conclusion: In a cohort of patients older than 60 undergoing cardiac surgery, a preoperative screen for MCI delayed postoperative physical recovery. A brief preoperative cognitive screen tool may identify patients who could benefit from early intervention for recovery of physical function.Keywords: ambulation, postoperative recovery, cardiac surgery, cognitive impairment, MoCAhttps://www.dovepress.com/preoperative-cognitive-screening-predicts-postoperative-ambulatory-rec-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CIAAmbulationPostoperative RecoveryCardiac SurgeryCognitive ImpairmentMoCA
spellingShingle Cotton JL
Anigbogu C
Stevens-Lapsley JE
Lum HD
Su Y
Bronsert M
Robinson TN
Rove JY
Preoperative Cognitive Screening Predicts Postoperative Ambulatory Recovery: A Pilot Study
Clinical Interventions in Aging
Ambulation
Postoperative Recovery
Cardiac Surgery
Cognitive Impairment
MoCA
title Preoperative Cognitive Screening Predicts Postoperative Ambulatory Recovery: A Pilot Study
title_full Preoperative Cognitive Screening Predicts Postoperative Ambulatory Recovery: A Pilot Study
title_fullStr Preoperative Cognitive Screening Predicts Postoperative Ambulatory Recovery: A Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed Preoperative Cognitive Screening Predicts Postoperative Ambulatory Recovery: A Pilot Study
title_short Preoperative Cognitive Screening Predicts Postoperative Ambulatory Recovery: A Pilot Study
title_sort preoperative cognitive screening predicts postoperative ambulatory recovery a pilot study
topic Ambulation
Postoperative Recovery
Cardiac Surgery
Cognitive Impairment
MoCA
url https://www.dovepress.com/preoperative-cognitive-screening-predicts-postoperative-ambulatory-rec-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CIA
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AT stevenslapsleyje preoperativecognitivescreeningpredictspostoperativeambulatoryrecoveryapilotstudy
AT lumhd preoperativecognitivescreeningpredictspostoperativeambulatoryrecoveryapilotstudy
AT suy preoperativecognitivescreeningpredictspostoperativeambulatoryrecoveryapilotstudy
AT bronsertm preoperativecognitivescreeningpredictspostoperativeambulatoryrecoveryapilotstudy
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