Identification of Risk Factors for Delirium, Cognitive Decline, And Dementia After Cardiac Surgery (FINDERI - Find Delirium Risk Factors): A Study Protocol of A Prospective Monocentric Observational Pilot Trial

Abstract BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium is a common complication of cardiac surgery associated with higher morbidity, longer hospital stay, risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and mortality. Geriatric patients, patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and intensive care patients are at a high risk of developing a postoperative delirium. A gold standard assessment or biomarkers to predict risk factors for delirium, cognitive decline, and dementia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery are not yet available. METHODS: The FINDERI trial (FINd DElirium RIsk factors) is a prospective, single-center, observational pilot study. In total, 500 patients aged ≥ 50 years undergoing cardiac surgery at the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery of the University of Göttingen Medical Center will be recruited. Our primary aims are to validate a delirium screening questionnaire and to identify specific preoperative risk factors and perioperative exposition factors for postoperative delirium, cognitive decline, and accelerated dementia after cardiac surgery. Our secondary aim is to identify blood-based biomarkers that predict the incidence of postoperative delirium, cognitive decline, or dementia in the context of cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION: This prospective, observational pilot trial might help to identify pre- and perioperative risk factors and biomarkers for postoperative delirium, cognitive decline, and dementia. The predictive value of a delirium screening questionnaire in cardiac surgery might also be revealed.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the IRB of the University of Göttingen Medical Center. The investigators registered this study in German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) (DRKS00025095) on April, 19th 2021 https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00025095.