The Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a Screening Tool
for Preoperative Cognitive Impairment in Geriatric Patients
Phongthara Vichitvejpaisal MD, PhD*,
Benjamas Preechakoon BNS, PhD**, Wannipa Supaprom BNS**, Sasitorn Sriputtaruk BNS**,
Saichol Rodpaewpaln BNS, MS***, Rattanaporn Saen-Ubol BNS***, Kitiya Vessuwan BNS***
Affiliation :
* Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
** Perioperative Nursing Division, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
*** Surgical and Orthopaedic Nursing Division, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : Study the prevalence of cognitive impairment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), its relationship
to physiologic age-related change, and the preoperative drugs used in geriatric patients.
Material and Method: At the preoperative visit, the co-researchers invited 322 general/vascular patients (190 male,
132 female) and 260 urological patients (220 male, 40 female) who met the inclusion criteria and were scheduled for elective
surgery to join the study. They went for the MoCA interview, and their preoperative drugs used were recorded in a medication
reconciliation file. A cut-off score 24 or above was considered normal.
Results : Ninety-two general/vascular and 126 urological patients had taken drugs before admission, but those did not show
any correlation with the MoCA score. There were 231 and 91 general/vascular patients and 175 and 85 urological patients
with formal education of less than six years and equal/more than six years respectively. The 286 and 36 general/vascular
patients and 212 and 48 urological patients posted scores of less than 24 and equal/more than 24 respectively. Gender and
education correlated positively and significantly with the score; however, age proved negatively significant.
Conclusion : The prevalence of cognitive impairment featured highly in preoperative geriatric patients. The gender, age,
and education but not preoperative drugs used affected cognitive function.
Keywords : Montreal cognitive assessment, Geriatrics, Cognitive impairment, Preoperative management
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