What is the longitudinal trajectory of neurocognitive function after coronary-artery bypass surgery?
Cognitive decline after CABG is prevalent and persistent, with early postoperative decline predicting later deterioration, highlighting the need for preventive interventions.
These results confirm the relatively high prevalence and persistence of cognitive decline after CABG and suggest a pattern of early improvement followed by a later decline that is predicted by the presence of early postoperative cognitive decline. Interventions to prevent or reduce short- and long-term cognitive decline after cardiac surgery are warranted.
Newman et al. (2001) studied this question.