Background

In the postoperative period clinically feasible instruments to monitor elderly patients’ neurocognitive recovery and discharge-readiness, especially after short-stay procedures, are limited. Cognitive monitoring may be improved by a novel digital clock drawing test (dCDT). We screened for cognitive impairment with the 4 A Test (4AT) and then administered the dCDT pre and post short-stay procedure (endoscopy). The primary aim was to investigate whether the dCDT was sensitive to a change in cognitive status post-endoscopy. We also investigated if pre-operative cognitive status impacted on post endoscopy dCDT variables.

Methods

We recruited 100 patients ≥65 y presenting for endoscopy day procedures at a single metropolitan hospital. Participants were assessed after admission and immediately before discharge from hospital. We administered the 4AT, followed by both command and copy clock conditions of the dCDT. We analysed the total drawing time (dCDT time), as well as scoring the drawn clock against the established Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) criteria both before and after endoscopy.

Results

Linear regression showed higher 4AT test scores (poorer performance) were associated with longer postoperative dCDT time (β=5.6, p=0.012) for the command condition after adjusting for preoperative baseline dCDT metrics, sex, age and years of education.

Conclusion

Postoperative dCDT time-based variables slowed in those with baseline cognitive impairment detected by the 4AT, but not for those without cognitive impairment. Our results suggest the dCDT, using the command mode, may help detect cognitive impairment in patients aged >65 years after elective endoscopy.