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The Cognitive Functions in Patients With Postoperative Delirium Undergoing Cardiac Surgery After ICU Discharge
Vincenza Giordano, Francesco Gravante, Shelly Amato, Niccolò Simonelli, Caterina Mercuri, Stefano Bambi, Maria Catone. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 2025-11-21
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
A total of 2540 records were screened. We included 10 studies. Eight studies reported evidence of level 3 (OCEBM level), and 4 had high methodological quality (JBI score). Four studies reported POD as a significant independent risk factor for cognitive impairment after CS. Four studies reported a positive association between POD and cognitive function 1 month after discharge, 3 studies reported it at 6 and 12 months after discharge, and 2 studies showed the effects on cognitive function at 36 months. The cognitive functions most affected in the patients who developed POD were memory, orientation, concentration, visual construction, language, and attention. POD in patients with CS is a widespread problem that negatively affects cognitive function after ICU discharge. Patients undergoing CS and caregivers shared vital data on cognitive impairments after ICU admission. Their long-term participation highlighted postoperative delirium's impact, stressing the need for improved care.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Giordano, V., Gravante, F., Amato, S., Simonelli, N., Mercuri, C., Bambi, S., et al. (2025). The Cognitive Functions in Patients With Postoperative Delirium Undergoing Cardiac Surgery After ICU Discharge. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1097/dcc.0000000000000737
Vancouver
Giordano V, Gravante F, Amato S, Simonelli N, Mercuri C, Bambi S, et al. The Cognitive Functions in Patients With Postoperative Delirium Undergoing Cardiac Surgery After ICU Discharge. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing. 2025. doi:10.1097/dcc.0000000000000737. PMID: 41294127.
BibTeX
@article{giordano2025-41294127,
author = {Giordano, Vincenza and Gravante, Francesco and Amato, Shelly and Simonelli, Niccolò and Mercuri, Caterina and Bambi, Stefano and Catone, Maria},
title = {{The Cognitive Functions in Patients With Postoperative Delirium Undergoing Cardiac Surgery After ICU Discharge}},
journal = {Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1097/dcc.0000000000000737},
pmid = {41294127},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/dcc.0000000000000737}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Eight studies reported evidence of level 3 (OCEBM level), and 4 had high methodological quality (JBI score).
- Four studies reported POD as a significant independent risk factor for cognitive impairment after CS.
- Four studies reported a positive association between POD and cognitive function 1 month after discharge, 3 studies reported it at 6 and 12 months after discharge, and 2 studies showed the effects on cognitive function at 36 months.
- The cognitive functions most affected in the patients who developed POD were memory, orientation, concentration, visual construction, language, and attention.
- POD in patients with CS is a widespread problem that negatively affects cognitive function after ICU discharge.
Why it matters
This systematic review found that postoperative delirium in cardiac surgery patients is a significant independent risk factor for cognitive impairment after ICU discharge, affecting memory, orientation, concentration, visual construction, language and attention. It is about delirium after surgery, not about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Participants2,540
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing: journal h-index 58 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 2,540 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 0 / 4 | Last-listed author Maria Catone: h-index 4 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Naples Federico II: institution h-index 862 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41294127) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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Also tagged “delirium”
858 studies in the library carry the topic tag “delirium”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 858 tagged studies.