Impact of Dexmedetomidine on Long-term Outcomes After Noncardiac Surgery in Elderly: 3-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

The aim was to compare the long-term outcomes of low-dose dexmedetomidine versus placebo in a randomized controlled trial (ChiCTR-TRC-10000802). Low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion decreased delirium occurrence within 1 week after surgery in elderly admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after noncardiac surgery, but the long-term outcome of this intervention is unknown. Patients or their family members were telephone-interviewed for a 3-year follow-up data collection of survival, cognitive function assessed with the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status, and quality of life evaluated with the World Health Organization Quality of Life. Of the 700 patients, 23 (3.3%) were lost at 3-year follow-up. The 3-year overall survival was not statistically different between the dexmedetomidine and placebo groups [114 deaths vs 122/350; hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-1.13, P = 0.303]. The survival rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were significantly higher in the dexmedetomidine than in the placebo group (rate difference of 5.2%, 5.3%, and 6.7% respectively; all P < 0.05). The remaining 98.4% (434/441) 3-year survivors, the dexmedetomidine group, had significantly better cognitive function (mean difference 4.7, 95% CI 3.8-5.6, P < 0.0001) and quality of life (physical domain: 13.6 [10.6-16.6]; psychological domain: 15.2 [12.5-18.0]; social relationship domain: 8.1 [5.5-10.7]; environment domain: 13.3 [10.9-15.7]; all P < 0.0001) than in the placebo group. For elderly admitted to ICU after noncardiac surgery, low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion did not significantly change 3-year overall survival, but increased survival up to 2 years, and improved cognitive function and quality of life in 3-year survivors.