Key result
APOE ε4 predicts 7-day postoperative cognitive dysfunction, while age ≥65 predicts ~51% higher 3-month risk.
Why the study?
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction frequently complicates recovery after surgery, but the association of the APOE gene polymorphism and clinical characteristics with its occurrence after colon cancer surgery required investigation.
Does the presence of the APOE ε4 allele predict postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing colon cancer surgery under general anesthesia?
Cohort (n=113)
Does the presence of the APOE ε4 allele predict postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing colon cancer surgery under general anesthesia?
p-value: p=0.007
The APOE ε4 allele predicts early postoperative cognitive dysfunction, while age ≥65 predicts late cognitive dysfunction after colon cancer surgery.
APOE ε4 was associated with early POCD after colon cancer surgery; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Background/Aim. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) occurs very often in operated patients. This increasingly frequent complication compromises the recovery of operated patients, impairs the quality of life of patients and their families, prolongs the length of hospital stay, and increases the cost of treatment. The aim of the study was to examine the association between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ?4 allele and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with the occurrence of POCD seven days and three months after colon cancer surgery (CCS) under general anesthesia (GA). Methods. A total of 113 patients aged 18 to 87 years who underwent CCS under GA in the period from 2021 to 2023 participated in the study. Preoperative preparation, anesthesia, and postoperative treatment were uniform and standardized for all patients. The assessment of cognitive status was conducted using the Mini Mental State Examination psychometric test on the day before surgery, on the seventh postoperative day, and three months after surgery. Results. Seven days after surgery, a statistically significant impairment of cognitive functions was found in patients with the APOE ?4 allele in their genotype (p = 0.007). Patients 65 years old or above were more likely to have POCD three months after surgery compared to younger patients (80.0% vs. 52.9%; p = 0.003). Conclusion. The presence of the APOE ?4 allele is a potential predictor of the occurrence of POCD seven days after surgery, and age is a significant sociodemographic factor for the occurrence of POCD three months after CCS is performed under GA.
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Boskovic et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Colon cancer surgery under general anesthesia (n=113). APOE ε4 allele vs. Absence of APOE ε4 allele was evaluated on Postoperative cognitive dysfunction at 7 days and 3 months (p=0.007). The APOE ε4 allele predicted postoperative cognitive dysfunction at 7 days (p=0.007), while age ≥65 years predicted dysfunction at 3 months (80.0% vs. 52.9%; p=0.003).
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