Preoperative Anemia As a Predictor of Postoperative Delirium in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Relationship between preoperative anemia (PA) and postoperative delirium (POD) is not still completely clear and totally proven for surcigally treated patients. This study tries to unveil that connection in patient surgically treated for colorectal cancer (CRC).

The aim of this study is to examine relationship between PA and POD in patients surgically treated for CRC and improve preoperative preparation and recognition of critical risk groups of patients for POD.

Out of 62 patient were analysed in prospective method. All patient have been operated for CRC in Surgical clinic of University clinical centre Tuzla from june until december of 2024. Patients were divided in 2 groups depending on presence of PA. Presence of PA is defined as blood hemoglobin concentration (HGB) lower than 130 g/L (<13 g/dL) or hematocrite (HCT) lower than 39% in grown up men and HGB <120 g/L (<12 g/dL) or HCT<37% in grown up women. Incidence of POD was observed and noted postoperatively. POD was diagnosed and confirmed with CAM test (Confusion Assessment Method), which was done inside first 2 hours after surgery and patient extubation. Noted datas were analysed with descriptive and analytic statistic methods.

POD incidence was 27% (17/62) on the first postoperative day. After analysis statitically significant realtionship was found between PA and POD (ρ=0.324; p<0.05). Realised corellation is on the significance level of 0.05 (95%), it has positive direction and waek intensity. POD occurs 4,5 times more often in patients with PA. (OR= 4,500; 95% IP: 1.355-14.944).

PA is connected with increased number of patients with POD who have been surgically treated for CRC. PA can be defined as one important preoperative risk factor that affect onset of POD . Identification of all preoperative risk factors and its correction represent best way of POD prevention.