Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026

A Mouse Model of Orthopedic Surgery to Study Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Tissue Regeneration
Published on: February 27, 2018
Low Plasma Cholinesterase Activity is Associated With Postoperative Delirium After Noncardiac Surgery in Elderly
Bao Zhao1, Yuhua Ni2, Xingsong Tian3
1Department of SICU, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Background:
Postoperative delirium (POD) commonly occurs in elderly patients after noncardiac surgery, resulting in increased morbidity and greater risk of death. However, its pathophysiology is currently unknown. Cholinergic dysfunction has been implicated in delirium pathophysiology, and low plasma cholinesterase activity has been reported as a risk marker of POD.
Objective:
Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the link between plasma cholinesterase activity and POD in elderly Han Chinese patients after noncardiac surgery.
Method:
From January 2014 to January 2016, a cohort of 206 patients aged ≥ 60years who underwent noncardiac surgery and were transferred to the surgical intensive care unit were enrolled. POD was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit. Clinical data including sex, age, general comorbidities, alcohol consumption, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, and type of surgery were recorded. Blood was drawn postoperatively to measure cholinesterase activity. Using multiple logistic regression analyses, the associations between cholinesterase activity and POD were examined, adjusting for potential confounding variables.
Results:
Delirium incidence was 22.3%. POD was associated with cholinesterase activity, age, and APACHE II score. In multiple logistic regression analyses, lower acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity were independent risk factors for POD.
Conclusion:
Plasma cholinesterase activity may be a candidate biomarker for POD after noncardiac surgery in the elderly Chinese Han population.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Observational Studies
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
Cholinesterases: Distribution and Function
Naturalistic Observations
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients
Observational Learning

