Postoperative delirium is a complex condition with multiple risk factors

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated research gap and stated challenges of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 3 journals. Those papers have been cited 14 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• Postoperative Delirium After Cardiac Surgery: Psychiatric Vulnerability, Biological Mechanisms, and Prevention Strategies (2026) · Medical Sciences · cited 6× · doi

  There is a need to synthesize current evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies of delirium after cardiac surgery. The study highlights the gap in current knowledge on the biological mechanisms of delirium after cardiac surgery. The review identifies the need for further research on the long-term outcomes of delirium after cardiac surgery.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: there need synthesize current evidence epidemiology risk factors
• Postoperative Delirium After Cardiac Surgery: Psychiatric Vulnerability, Biological Mechanisms, and Prevention Strategies (2026) · Medical Sciences · cited 6× · doi

  The diagnosis of delirium after cardiac surgery can be challenging due to its multifactorial nature and fluctuating clinical presentation. The study highlights the challenge of underdiagnosis of delirium in clinical practice, particularly in elderly patients with pre-existing cognitive impairment. The review identifies the need for standardized and validated screening tools to detect delirium in clinical practice.

  generalstated challenges
  Keywords: diagnosis delirium after cardiac surgery challenging due multifactorial
• Two Brief Steps, Better Foresight: Cognitive Screening and Adverse Outcomes in Older Adults Admitted From the Emergency Department (2026) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · cited 2× · doi

  Limited workflow integration is a barrier to routine cognitive screening in the ED. Inadequate training and ED environmental constraints are challenges to implementing cognitive screening in the ED. Distinguishing between preexisting cognitive impairment and acute cognitive dysfunction, particularly delirium, is a challenge in acutely ill older patients.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: limited workflow integration barrier routine cognitive screening inadequate
• Preoperative depressive symptoms as a marker of postoperative delirium risk in older adults: a prospective cohort study in spine surgery (2026) · Frontiers in Medicine · doi

  The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the association between preoperative depressive symptoms and postoperative delirium in older adults undergoing elective spine surgery. Prior work has not fully investigated the relationship between preoperative depressive symptoms and postoperative delirium in this population.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study identifies gap understanding association between preoperative depressive
• Preoperative depressive symptoms as a marker of postoperative delirium risk in older adults: a prospective cohort study in spine surgery (2026) · Frontiers in Medicine · doi

  The study notes that postoperative delirium is a complex condition with multiple risk factors. The study identifies the challenge of assessing depressive symptoms in older adults undergoing surgery. The study notes that the small sample size and limited event-to-parameter ratio may limit the generalizability of the findings.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study notes postoperative delirium complex condition multiple risk

Questions about this gap