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Current Anesthesiology Reports
Published in: Current Anesthesiology Reports 1/2015

01-03-2015 | Perioperative Delirium (JM Leung, Section Editor)

Delirium and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Exploring the Molecular Link

Authors: Stephanie C. Patterson, Shawn G. Kwatra, Miles Berger, Madan M. Kwatra

Published in: Current Anesthesiology Reports | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Delirium is a common problem among the elderly. The incidence of delirium will increase considerably in the coming decades as the proportion of the population over age 65 increases. Given that an FDA-approved drug to treat delirium is not available, efforts geared toward prevention are paramount. Several risk factors that predispose/precipitate delirium have been identified. A recently described, reversible risk factor for postoperative delirium is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this review, we focus on the molecular basis of delirium and its link to OSA. We present evidence that OSA modulates the levels of two factors, IGF-1 and cortisol, which both have been linked to postoperative delirium.
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Metadata
Title
Delirium and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Exploring the Molecular Link
Authors
Stephanie C. Patterson
Shawn G. Kwatra
Miles Berger
Madan M. Kwatra
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Anesthesiology Reports / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 2167-6275
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-014-0092-3

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