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International Observational Study on Perioperative Cognitive Trajectories (POCD Census International/PCI)

Evaluation of POCD-Census Prospective, International Observation Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03540433
Enrollment
173
Registered
2018-05-30
Start date
2018-06-08
Completion date
2024-12-31
Last updated
2025-02-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Neurocognitive Disorders, Postoperative Cognitive Deficit (POCD)

Brief summary

The purpose of this international, multi-centre observational study is to describe perioperative cognitive changes (pre-existing neurocognitive disorder \[NCD\], postoperative delirium \[POD\] and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction \[POCD\]) up to five years after elective surgery in a mixed cohort. Measurements and definitions of cognitive outcomes will be based on current consensus and used for further harmonization in future clinical studies on perioperative cognitive trajectories. This is a feasibility approach to identify an effective screening procedure and estimate loss to follow up rates for the planning of future intervention studies. Data from this trial may also serve to facilitate and implement time effective cognitive screening and risk stratification concerning postoperative cognitive decline in the anaesthesiological preoperative assessment.

Detailed description

This international observational study on perioperative cognitive trajectories (POCD census international/PCI) has been designed as a pilot study to allow a peer reviewed process of four international test centres on measurement of perioperative acute and long-term cognitive outcome. Data from standard clinical treatment of 500 patients age ≥ 70 years scheduled for elective surgery (stratified according to preoperative assessment of frailty and monitored by intraoperative depth of anaesthesia) will be supplemented by guideline conform delirium- analgesia- and sedation screening until day 5 after surgery, I-Pad based neuropsychological testing \[Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery - CANTAB connect\] pre-operatively, 3 months, 1- 2- and 5 years after surgery, a paper-based verbal fluency test (animal naming test from Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R)), a paper based test on executive function (Trailmaking Test), cognitive screening tests (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) and Mini-Cog), and concomitant questionnaires to assess functional status, self- and by proxy rating of cognitive performance, psychological factors (depression, perioperative anxiety, stress, resilience and coping), social support, perioperative anxiety, stress, resilience and coping, as well as risk consumption of alcohol and tobacco. A non-surgical control group of 100 study participants who are not scheduled for surgery will be followed up at the same time points as the surgical cohort for scaling of cognitive data and definition of cut off values to define significant cognitive decline. Secondary outcome measures of this trial comprise levels and changes in molecular biomarkers involved in Alzheimer's dementia etiology sampled from spinal fluid on induction of spinal anaesthesia and sampled from blood in all patients. Retrospective comparison collective (01/01/2017 to 01/01/2022): A group of around 8000 surgical patients aged 65 and older at the Charité will be examined as control group. This control group is required for various questions, especially influencing factors with regard to the postoperative outcome of delirium, and aims to test the predictive ability of clinical routine data with regard to postoperative delirium. As part of the multimodality of this retrospective comparative cohort study, in cooperation with PD. Dr Scheel and in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Finke, cranial MRI scans analyzing routine data from the Institute of Neuroradiology. The subject of the investigation is initially the entire electronic routine data of the control group, including the existing cranial MRI scans.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
70 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Surgical patients at Campus Virchow- Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte * Aged ≥ 70 years * Informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Manifest dementia * Lack of willingness to store and disseminate pseudonymized disease data as part of the clinical trial * Lack of readiness to participate in the follow-up examinations and contact to make an appointment * Placement in an institute under judicial or official orders (according to German drug Law §40 (1) 4) * Persons without a permanent residence or other circumstances that call into question the availability by telephone or post for postoperative examination * Employees of the respective study centers * illiteracy * Patients with a neuropsychiatric condition that limits the performance of neurocognitive testing * Patients with hearing and / or vision problems that limit the performance of neuro-cognitive testing * Simultaneous participation in a prospective clinical intervention study (apart from the desired parallel participation in the anaesthesiological study Praep-Go, EA1/225/19)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD)Up to 1 yearNeuropsychological testing

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Motivational incongruenceUp to five yearsThe incongruence questionnaire (Der Inkongruenzfragebogen)
Outpatient treatmentUp to 5 yearsTreatment outside of the hospital in an associated facility for diagnosis or treatment.
MortalityUp to 5 yearsThe number of deaths in a given period.
DementiaUp to 5 yearsDementia reported as clinical diagnosis based on DSM-5 criteria for major NCD either through neuropsychological evaluation at a memory clinic or as a research diagnosis based on neuropsychological test values (CANTAB/MOCA), cognitive concern (MMQ/IQCODE) and functionality (ADL/IADL).
Leisure behaviorUp to five yearsQuestionnaire on frequency of cognitively stimulating leisure activities
Demographic variablesUp to five years
Living conditionsUp to five years
Postoperative electroencephalography (EEG) spectral analysis with band powerUp to seven daysSpectral analysis with band power are measured by EEG at third postoperative day and delirium dependent until postoperative day 7.
Evaluation of painUp to three monthsPain is measured with dolosys paintracker
LonelinessUp to five yearsLoneliness is measured with the UCLA-Loneliness-Scale (3 items)
Social supportUp to five yearsSocial support is measured with the Berliner Social-Support Skalen BSSS-17
Living situationUp to five yearsLiving situation is measured with te question: How do you live?
Depth of sedation on the Intensive Care UnitParticipants will be followed for the duration of intensive care unit stay, an expected average of 5 daysSedation is measured by Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale.
Sedation on the peripheral wardParticipants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 7 daysSedation is measured by Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale.
Incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD)Up to 5 yearsNeuropsychological testing
Positive cognitive screeningUp to 5 yearsShort neuropsychological testing
Mild Neurocognitive DisorderUp to five yearsDefinition according to DSM-V as proposed in Evered L et al. Recommendations for the nomenclature of cognitive change associated with anaesthesia and surgery. Br J Anaesth, Anesthesiology, Can J Anesth, Anesth Analg, J Alz Dis, acta scandinavica anaesthesiologica (Joint Publication) 2017; Accepted, In Press. We will use an I-pad based neuropsychological test battery (CANTAB connect), and cognitive screening instruments (MOCA, Mini-Cog™ and Animal naming test on verbal fluency from ACE-R) for assessment of cognitive function, MMQ and IQ-code for self- or by proxy reported cognitive concern and ADL/IADL for assessment of functional status. Mild/major Neurocognitive Disorder measured at baseline (pre-existing NCD) 3 months and 1 year (with specifier 'POCD'), 2- and 5 years after surgery
Major Neurocognitive DisorderUp to five yearsDefinition according to DSM-V as proposed in Evered L et al. Recommendations for the nomenclature of cognitive change associated with anaesthesia and surgery. Br J Anaesth, Anesthesiology, Can J Anesth, Anesth Analg, J Alz Dis, acta scandinavica anaesthesiologica (Joint Publication) 2017; Accepted, In Press. We will use an I-pad based neuropsychological test battery (CANTAB connect), and cognitive screening instruments (MOCA, Mini-Cog™ and Animal naming test on verbal fluency from ACE-R) for assessment of cognitive function, MMQ and IQ-code for self- or by proxy reported cognitive concern and ADL/IADL for assessment of functional status. Mild/major Neurocognitive Disorder measured at baseline (pre-existing NCD) 3 months and 1 year (with specifier 'POCD'), 2- and 5 years after surgery
Cerobrospinal fluid biomarker for diagnosing dementiaUp to five yearsPatients for spinal anesthesia who consented on lumbar puncture receive biomarkers analysis from spinal fluid (beta Amyloid 1-40, beta-Amyloid 1-42, beta-Amyloid Ratio (42/40\*10), phospho-TAU, Protein 14-3-3, PRPSc, TAU (Gesamt-Tau)).
Blood biomarker for diagnosing dementiaUp to five yearsPatients consented on blood sampling receive biomarker analysis from blood (Apolipoprotein E).
Findings of memory consultation sessionUp to five years
ComorbiditiesUp to five yearsComorbidities will be quantified by use of Charlson Comorbidity index
Nutritional statusUp to five yearsChanges in the nutritional status after elective surgery are measured by a questionnaire.
Malnutrition 1Up to five yearsMalnutrition is measured by the Body mass index
Malnutrition 2Up to five yearsMalnutrition is measured by weight
Malnutrition 3Up to five yearsMalnutrition is measured by weight
Dental healthUp to five yearsThe dental status is determined by tooth doctors
SarcopeniaUp to five yearsThe composite outcome measure Sarcopenia is defined by the following three criteria: 1) low muscle strength (hand grip strength), 2) low muscle quantity (calf circumference and 3) low physical performance (gait speed). Criterion (1) identifies probable sarcopenia, additional documentation of criterion (2) confirms sarcopenia diagnosis, and if all criteria (1), (2) and (3) are met, sarcopenia is considered severe.
Calf circumferenceUp to five yearsCalf circumference is measured in a standardized position and documented in centimeter.
Arm circumferenceUp to five yearsArm circumference is measured in a standardized position and documented in centimeter.
Adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD)Up to five yearsAdherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) is measured with a German Mediscore, could range from 0 to 9, with higher scores (6-9) indicating greater MD adherence.
Nutrition in the hospitalUp to five yearsParticipants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 7 days
Physical activityAt the beginning of the observationPhysical activity is evaluated by interviewing the Patient.
Surgical riskParticipants will be followed up during surgery, an estimated duration of 1 hourSurgical risk will be described by type and length of surgery and perioperative cardiac risk estimation as described in Anästh Intensivmed 2017; 58:349-364.
Anaesthesiological Risk 1At the beginning of the observationAnaesthesiological risk will be described by American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (ASA Class)
Anaesthesiological Risk 2Participants will be followed up during surgery, an estimated duration of 1 hourAnaesthesiological risk will be measured by length of anesthesia
Anaesthesiological Risk 3Participants will be followed up during surgery, an estimated duration of 1 hourAnaesthesiological risk will be measured by type of anaesthesia
Intraoperative depth of anaesthesiaParticipants will be followed up during surgery, an estimated duration of 1 hourIntraoperative depth of sedation will be monitored with changes in the pattern and power spectrum of EEG-raw data measured with the Masimo SedLine® brain function monitoring for Root®, Narcotrend®, BIS™ and additionally quantified by indices \[e.g. PSI or BIS-index\] and burst suppression ratio.
Agitation on the peripheral wardParticipants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 7 daysAgitation describes a clinical state in which the patient may be impulsive and attempt to get out of bed, to wander, and to fall (which may lead to further injury or death) and attempt to remove IV lines, tubes, or catheters.
Incidence of postoperative deliriumUp to 5 daysPostoperative delirium rate, defined according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), CAM/CAM-ICU, Nu-DESC and Chart Review.
Severity of postoperative deliriumUp to 5 daysPostoperative delirium rate, defined according to Confusion assessment method - severity(CAM-S); Delirium Rating Scale Revised (DSR-R-98), Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) and Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC).
Duration of DeliriumParticipants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 7 daysDuration of postoperative delirium, defined according to medical evaluation, measured in days
Pain scale for patients able of pain self-assessmentUp to hospital discharge, an expected average of 5 daysPain during hospital stay will be measured with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-V).
Pain scales for patients unable of pain self-assessmentUp to hospital discharge, an expected average of 5 daysFor patients unable of pain self-assessment (e.g. ventilated patients, patients in delirious state or patients with stroke affecting language skills) observer-rated pain scales will be applied: Behavioural Pain Scale (BPS for ventilated) and BPS-NI (for non-ventilated) patients, Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) during hospital stay.
Intensive care unit length of stayParticipants will be followed for the duration of intensive care unit stay, an expected average of 5 daysIntensive care unit length of stay describes every day spent in an ICU bed.
Hospital length of stayParticipants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 7 daysHospital length of stay describes every day spent in an hospital.
Perioperative AnxietyUp to 5 daysPerioperative anxiety will be measured with APAIS preoperatively and the Faces Anxiety Scale (FAS) and during hospital stay.
Perception of stressUp to 5 daysStress is measured by Perceived Stress Questionnaire 20
Stress levelUp to 5 daysStress level is measured by stress thermometer
Generalized anxietyUp to 5 daysAnxiety will be measured with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7)
DepressionUp to 5 yearsDepression is measured by PHQ-8. Scores represent:0-5 = mild, 6-10 = moderate, 11-15 = moderately severe, 16-20 = severe depression
Quality of sleepUp to 5 yearsQuality of sleep is measured by the Insomnia Severity Index.
Routine laboratoryUp to hospital discharge, an expected average of 7 days
Organ dysfunctionsUp to hospital discharge, an expected average of 7 daysOrgan dysfunctions are evaluated according to the Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications
Subjective/By proxy assessment of cognitive impairmentUp to five years
MedicationUp to 5 yearsPrescribed regular drug intake from baseline at all follow ups including perioperative application of drugs, infusions and transfusions will be evaluated.
Quality of lifeUp to 5 yearsQuality of life will be measured with the EQ-5D-5L
Level of dependencyUp to 5 yearsLevel of dependency will be measured with with ADL/IADL, single items concerning patients' living situation and the BSSS-17 (Berlin Social Support Scales).
Plausibility check variablesUp to 5 yearsVariables affecting performance of cognitive testings
Re-admissionUp to 5 yearsHospital readmission is an episode when a patient who had been discharged from a hospital is admitted again within a specified time interval.
Revison surgeryUp to 5 yearsSurgery performed to replace or compensate for a failed implant or to correct undesirable sequelae of previous surgery.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Variables of adjustingAt the beginning of the observationReading / writing weakness, hendedness, native speaker
FrailtyAt the beginning of the observationFrailty will be measured by Fried's criteria (Physical Frailty Phenotype), Fried et al: Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J.Gerontol.A Biol.Sci.Med.Sci. 2001; 56: M146-M156 and evaluated in a short comprehensive geriatric assessment as decribed by Birkelbach, O. et al. Warum und wie sollte ich Frailty erfassen? - ein Ansatz für die Anästhesieambulanz. Anasthesiol. Intensivmed. Notfallmedizin Schmerztherapie 52, 765-776 (2017).
Cognitive ReserveAt the beginning of the observationLevel of education (years of formal training, last occupation, ISCED-2011 and crystalline intelligence \[IQ-variable calculated with NART/MWT-A or other national equivalent \] will be used to evaluate cognitive reserve.
Crystalline IntelligenceAt the beginning of the observationMehrfachwahl-Wortschatz-Intelligenztest (MWT-A) and National Adult Reading Test (NART)
Previous professional activityAt the beginning of the observationInterview guide employment situation and previous professional activity adapted to Engstler (2017); Classification according to ISCO 08; Workload indices according to Kroll (2011)
Delusion pronenessAt the beginning of the observationDelusion proneness is measured by Peter's Delusion Inventory
Physical activityAt the beginning of the observationHistory of physical activity less than 30 minutes / day (i.e. moderate increase in heart rate due to fast walking, cycling or other exercise)
Pre-operative electroencephalography (EEG) spectral analysis with band powerAt the beginning of the observationSpectral analysis with band power are measured by EEG
Preoperative Cognitive Impairment (PreCI)At the beginning of the observationPreoperative Cognitive Impairment (PreCI) is measured by computerized and paper pencil tests
Obesity 1At the beginning of the observationObesity is measured by body mass index (BMI)
Obesity 2At the beginning of the observationObesity is measured by waist to hip ratio

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026