Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment and mini-mental state examination in evaluating the cognitive function of patients received cardiac surgery:a comparative study

Abstract

Objective To evaluate whether Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment (LOTCA) can be used in the diagnosis of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) by comparing it with mini-mental state examination (MMSE).Methods Thirty patients performed cardiac valve replacement surgery in our hospital from October 2010 to March 2011 were chosen; the cognitive function of these patients were neuropsychologically evaluated by MMSE and LOTCA 1 d before and 7 d after the surgery; the differences of accurately diagnostic rate on POCD,the scores and the time-consuming when MMSE and LOTCA were chosen were compared.Results Thirteen patients (43.33％) were diagnosed as having POCD by MMSE and 17 patients (56.67％) by LOTCA; the difference of accurately diagnostic rate on POCD was not statistically significant (x2=1.067,P=0.302).MMSE scores,LOTCA scores and scores of 4 subtests (motor praxis,visuomotor organization,operation of thinking,and attention and concentration) 7 d after the surgery was significantly decreased as compared with those 1 d before the surgery (P＜0.05).MMSE scores were highly correlated with LOTCA scores (γ=0.711,P=0.005).Conclusion LOTCA can be used in the diagnosis and research of POCD.It can do a more comprehensive assessment than MMSE in cognitive function with longer times. Key words: Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment; Mini-mental state examination; Postoperative cognitive dysfunction