Dementia risk after major elective surgery based on the route of anaesthesia: A propensity score-matched population-based cohort study

Background Whether the route of anaesthesia is an independent risk factor for dementia remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a propensity score-matched (PSM) population-based cohort study to compare dementia incidence among surgical patients undergoing different routes of anaesthesia. Methods The inclusion criteria were being an inpatient >20 years of age who underwent major elective surgery, defined as those requiring GA without or with inhalation anaesthetics or regional anaesthesia, and being hospitalised for >1 day between Jan 1, 2008 and Dec 31, 2019 in Taiwan. Patients undergoing major elective surgery were categorised into three groups according to the type of anaesthesia administered: noninhalation anaesthesia, inhalation anaesthesia, and regional anaesthesia, matched at a 1:1 ratio. The incidence rate (IR) of dementia was determined. Findings PSM yielded 63,750 patients (21,250 in the noninhalation anaesthesia group, 21,250 in the inhalation anaesthesia group, and 21,250 in the regional anaesthesia group). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs; 95% confidence intervals) of dementia for the inhalation and noninhalation anaesthesia groups compared with the regional anaesthesia group were 20.16 (15.40-26.35; p < 0.001) and 18.33 (14.03-24.04; p < 0.001), respectively. The aHR of dementia for inhalation anaesthesia compared with noninhalation anaesthesia was 1.13 (1.03-1.22; p = 0.028). The IRs of dementia for the inhalation, noninhalation, and regional anaesthesia groups were 3647.90, 3492.00, and 272.99 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Interpretation In this population based cohort study, the incidence of dementia among surgical patients undergoing general anaesthesia was higher than among those undergoing regional anaesthesia. Among patients undergoing general anaesthesia, inhalation anaesthesia was associated with a higher risk of dementia than noninhalation anaesthesia. Our results should be confirmed in a randomised controlled trial. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

This study compared the incidence of dementia among surgical patients undergoing different routes of anesthesia and found that patients undergoing general anesthesia had a higher risk of dementia compared to those undergoing regional anesthesia. The risk of dementia was also higher with inhalation anesthesia compared to noninhalation anesthesia. These findings should be confirmed in a randomized controlled trial.