Publication in Age and Ageing
We are delighted to announce that our latest paper has been published in this month’s issue of Age and Ageing. “Development and validation of an international preoperative risk assessment model for postoperative delirium“ describes the development of our CE-certified postoperative delirium risk prediction tool (https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/ageing/afad086).
Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious complication among older adults undergoing surgery. It is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. In an effort to address this issue, PIPRA AG has developed and validated a novel risk assessment model called PIPRA (Pre-Interventional Preventive Risk Assessment) for predicting the likelihood of POD in older surgical patients. The study aimed to create an effective preoperative risk prediction algorithm to identify individuals at a higher risk of developing delirium after surgery. The researchers conducted a systematic review of eight studies and gathered individual-level data for analysis. The final model incorporates various patient factors, including age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists® (ASA) score, history of delirium, cognitive impairment, medications, optional C-reactive protein (CRP), surgical risk, and the type of operation performed (laparotomy/thoracotomy).
This ground-breaking research has been published in Age and ageing, a prestigious international peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research, review articles and editorial pieces on geriatric medicine and clinical gerontology. Age and Ageing is the most highly ranked journal in geriatrics and gerontology, published by Oxford University Press and the official journal of the British Geriatrics Society. PIPRA's publication in this esteemed journal signifies a remarkable achievement that reinforces its standing as a trusted and renowned tool within the medical community.
Validation and Results:
Validation of the new PIPRA algorithm demonstrated strong predictive ability, providing clinicians with valuable information to optimise patient care and prioritise interventions for vulnerable individuals.
Clinical Implications:
PIPRA offers an innovative and user-friendly approach to assessing the risk of postoperative delirium. By utilising this risk prediction tool, healthcare professionals can identify patients who are more likely to develop delirium following surgery and implement appropriate preventive strategies. This individualised approach to care can enhance patient outcomes, reduce the incidence of delirium, and optimise healthcare resource allocation.
The research, coordinated by Dr. Benjamin Dodsworth , represents a truly global collaboration, with co-authors Kelly Reeve and Nayeli Schmutz from PIPRA AG in Switzerland, Lisa Falco from Zühlke Group in Switzerland, Tom Hueting from Evidencio in The Netherlands, Behnam Sadeghirad from McMaster University in Canada, Lawrence Mbuagbaw from McMaster University in Canada, Yaoundé Central Hospital in Cameroon and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and Nicolai Goettel from Harvard Medical School in the USA. Data were contributed from hospitals all across the world, including from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Romania, Japan, South Korea and Australia. The validation of PIPRA not only highlights the dedication and expertise of the team behind its creation but also enhances its credibility as a valuable resource with the potential to make a positive impact on patient care and surgical outcomes.