ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Post-Operative Delirium and Cognitive Decline in Kidney Transplant Recipients

N. Chu, D. Segev, M. McAdams Demarco

Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD

Meeting: 2020 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 553

Keywords: Kidney transplantation, Post-operative complications

Session Information

Session Name: Kidney Psychosocial

Session Type: Oral Abstract Session

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2020

Session Time: 3:15pm-4:45pm

 Presentation Time: 4:27pm-4:39pm

Location: Virtual

*Purpose: Post-operative delirium may be a marker for greater cognitive vulnerability to stressors. As a result, those with post-operative delirium may experience steeper decline in cognitive performance following stressors of surgery post-KT.

*Methods: We used a single center cohort study of 912 adult KT recipients with delirium assessments abstracted from medical records and global (3MS) and domain-specific (executive function: time to complete TMT-B minus TMT-A) cognitive performance measured at time of KT, 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, 1-year, and annually thereafter post-KT. We used mixed effects models with fixed and random effects for person and time to describe repeated measures of cognitive performance and compare trajectories by post-operative delirium.

*Results: Among 912 KT recipients, 44 (4.8%) had post-operative delirium. Post-operative delirium was associated with higher levels of cognitive impairment at KT (18.2% vs 8.0%), and was associated with lower 3MS component scores including in memory, identification/association, and orientation (Table1). After adjustment, those with delirium had 3MS scores that were on average 3.6 points lower than those without delirium (95%CI: -6.9, 0.3) at time of KT; delirium was not associated with differing global cognitive trajectories post-KT (difference=0.04 points/month, 95%CI:-0.1, 0.2) (Figure1A). However, delirium was associated with lower executive function at KT (difference=44.0s, 95%CI: 17.4, 70.6) and steeper decline in executive function post-KT (difference=-1.1s/month, 95%CI:-2.1,-0.05) (Figure1B).

*Conclusions: KT recipients with delirium experience greater decline in executive function, indicating greater cognitive vulnerability with potential vascular etiologies. Transplant centers should be aware of the cognitive risks associated with post-KT delirium and implement available preventative interventions to reduce risk of delirium.

 border=

 border=

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Chu N, Segev D, Demarco MMcAdams. Post-Operative Delirium and Cognitive Decline in Kidney Transplant Recipients [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2020; 20 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/post-operative-delirium-and-cognitive-decline-in-kidney-transplant-recipients/. Accessed June 6, 2025.

« Back to 2020 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences