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Postoperative Cognitive DysfunctionNCT02832193

Retrospective Evaluation of POCD Data of Studies From KAI, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

An observational study of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction, run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 2 sites in Germany.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Data on prevention of perioperative neurocognitive disorders (pNCDs) are limited. The purpose of this monocentric parallel - grouped observational registry is to collect study data from studies with pNCDs as primary or secondary endpoint to estimate prevalence and incidence of pNCDs. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 100 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction
How many people
5,000 participants
Where
2 sitesGermany
Study dates
Mar 2009to Dec 2027
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 100 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Male and female patients undergoing surgery, screened at the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CCM, CVK), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18 -100 years
  • Male or female patients undergoing elective surgery expected to last at least 60 min, screened at the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CCM, CVK), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Written informed consent to participate after having been properly instructed
  • Age 18 - 100 years
  • Male or female patients (ASA Status I, II+III)
  • No planned surgery during the next 3 months
  • No surgery during the past 6 months before study inclusion
  • Written informed consent to participate after having been properly instructed

Who cannot join

  • Lacking willingness to take part in the study, or to have relevant study data collected, saved and analyzed for the purpose of the study
  • Accommodation in an institution due to an official or judicial order
  • Insufficient knowledge of German language
  • Members of the hospital staff
  • Homelessness or other conditions that disable reachability for postoperative assessment by post or telephone
  • Illiteracy
Show all 15Show fewer
  • Patients who had a history of neurologic deficits (e.g. stroke, history of seizures, etc.)
  • Hearing impairment that severely affects the neuropsychological testing.
  • Visual impairment that severely affects the neuropsychological testing.
  • Participation in other prospective clinical interventional trials
  • Control Group
  • Insufficient knowledge of German language Lacking willingness to take part in the study, or to have relevant study data collected, saved and analyzed for the purpose of the study
  • Neuropsychiatric conditions that severely affect the neuropsychological testing
  • Hearing impairment that severely affects the neuropsychological testing
  • Visual impairment that severely affects the neuropsychological testing

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Claudia Spies, MD, Prof. contact

+49 30 450 5510 01

claudia.spies@charite.de

Germany2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • Irmgard Landgraf

    Berlin, 12163

    Irmgard Landgraf, MD, +49 30 450 85726877, praxislandgraf@gmail.com

    Not yet recruiting
  • Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine Berlin (CCM, CVK), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Berlin, 13353

    Claudia Spies, MD, Prof., +49 30 450 55 10 01, claudia.spies@charite.de

    Claudia Spies, MD, Prof.

    Recruiting

Other trials in Germany

About this study

Official title: Retrospective Evaluation of POCD Data of Studies From the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CCM, CVK) Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Data on prevention of perioperative neurocognitive disorders (pNCDs) are limited. The purpose of this monocentric parallel - grouped observational registry is to collect study data from studies with pNCDs as primary or secondary endpoint to estimate prevalence and incidence of pNCDs.

Read the detailed description

Perioperative cognitive trajectories (Perioperative neurocognitive disorders [pNCDs]) are described with formal cognitive testing (neurocognitive test battery). Definitions are based on current nomenclature recommendations (Evered et al.) according to DSM-V criteria including a multi-component cognitive test battery comparing baseline and postoperative follow-up testing of patients with cognitive test performance of non-surgical control groups.Cognitive concern and functional ability are described with items from questionnaires, e.g. IQCODE, MMQ, GDS, ADL/IADL and others specific to the respective study design.

Repeated cognitive testing with a battery of computerized neuropsychological tests (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery [CANTAB®]) and non computerized (paper based)tests (e.g. trailmaking test, Grooved pegboard test, Stroop color word interference test, animal naming test, etc.) are performed at preoperative baseline, after 5-7 days and at three months follow up, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years follow-up according to the study design of the registered studies.

Different calculation methods will be applied to the cognitive test data, primarily the dichotomousapproach established by Rasmussen et al. in the International Study on postoperative cognitive deficits (ISPOCD). This calculation method defines POCD as a reliable change in pre- and postoperative cognitive performance (difference scores) of each individual in the surgical patients cohort as compared to the changes in a non-surgical control group (reliable change index in either a composite score including cognitive test parameters from all tests in the cognitive test battery or in at least two of the chosen cognitive test parameters). Additional calculation methods like "g-factor", "GCP" and arbitrary definitions e.g. "20.20- rule" will be used for detailed methodologic evaluation.

In two subprojects we plan to describe domain-specific changes in formal cognitive testing over the registered surgical cohorts.

Subproject 1-Analyses will be performed in joint evaluation with Monument Therapeutics (Spin off Cambridge Cognition). The analyses aim to :

  1. Describe cognitive change based on raw cognitive data from the applied cognitive test battery (computerized tests with CANTAB eclipse, CANTAB research suite, CANTAB connect and non-computerized tests)
  2. Identify predisposing factors (e.g. patient characteristics, biomarkers, medications) predictive of cognitive decline following surgery
  3. Identify the cognitive domains most sensitive to neuropsychological change following surgery

Subproject 2-Analyses will be performed in joint evaluation with Cambridge Cognition. The analyses aim to :

Facilitate the use of data collected from non-surgical controls as normative material for future studies in the research area.

Medical subject headings
Postoperative Cognitive Complications

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT02832193
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Study groupPOCD data of study patients of the following studies: Phydelio - Eudract.-No.: 2008-007237-47 - 08/0618 ZS EK11 Neuprodex - Eudract-No.: 2013 -000823-15 - 13/0491 ZSEK11 BioCog - EA2/092/14 Cognitive Outcome after two stage liver operation - EA1/296/12 ReCosa - EA1/056/13 Hypnoc - EA1/273/11 Sudoco - EA1/242/08 Peratecs - EA1/241/08 Hipster - Eudract.-No.: 2009-016043-19 100/10 ZS EK15 Pain-Long-EA2/041/17 PCI - EA2/024/18 PODSPA - EA4/138/18, PRÄP-GO -EA1/225/19, ANA-PRÄP-Go (EA1/266/20) Further studies from the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medince (CCM/CVK), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Control group IPOCD data of prospective control subjects/patients (ASA I+II+III) and POCD data of control subjects/patients of the following studies: Neuprodex - Eudract-No.: 2013 -000823-15 - 13/0491 ZSEK11 Phydeliostudie - Eudract.-No.: 2008-007237-47 - 08/0618 ZS EK11 BioCog - EA2/092/14 Cognitive Outcome after two stage liver operation - EA1/296/12 Hypnoc - EA1/273/11 Sudoco - EA1/242/08 Peratecs - EA1/241/08 Hipster - Eudract.-No.: 2009-016043-19 100/10 ZS EK15 BioCog-Studie - EA2/092/14 REACT-Studie - EA2/091/15 PAINLONG-Studie - EA2/041/17 PCI - EA2/024/18 PODSPA - EA4/138/18, PRÄP-GO -EA1/225/19, ANA-PRÄP-Go (EA1/266/20) Further studies from the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medince (CCM/CVK), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD)

    Mild / major neurocognitive disorder 3 (mild / major NCD 'Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD)') and 12 months (mild / major NCD) postoperatively.

    Measured: Up to 1 year

  2. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD)

    Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is defined as relevant change in postoperative cognitive performance compared to baseline (preoperative) cognitive performance.

    Measured: Up to 1 year

Secondary outcomes (56)
  1. Suspected neurocognitive disorder due to MiniCog

    The MiniCog is used for cognitive screening. A cut-off value of <3 points is interpreted possible mild / major NCD. The Mini-Cog consists of a sub-test for word memory skills and a clock drawing test.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  2. Suspected dementia from MOCA

    The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) with cut-offs according to normative age-adjusted values is used as dementia screening. The MOCA consists of 13 items, which are rated on a scale from 0 to 30 points.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  3. Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD)

    Mild / major neurocognitive disorder (mild / major NCD) 60months postoperatively.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  4. Suspected postoperative neurocognitive disorder (mild / major NCD 'POCD')

    The non-computerized neuropsychological trail making test is used as an indicator screening test for relevant cognitive changes after the operation. The cut-off is an increase in TMT-B test performance of> 55 seconds three and / or 12 months after the operation compared to the baseline value.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  5. Findings from outpatient neurocognitive evaluation (memory clinic)

    Results from patient neurocognitive assessment in a memory clinic are evaluated.

    Measured: Up to 1 year

  6. Neuroimaging

    Technique to image the nervous system.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  7. Normative database

    Establishment of a norm database for deriving normative data in a cooperation between the Clinial Research Unit Berlin/Institute of Health (BIH), the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CCM/CVK) at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Cambridge Cognition.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  8. Perioperative cognitive disorders

    Perioperative cognitive disorders for different surgical cohorts are evaluated to describe domain-specific changes over time in formal cognitive tests. These analyzes are carried out in a joint evaluation with Monument Therapeutics as part of a cooperation agreement

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  9. Computerized cognitive data

    Computerized cognitive data from CANTAB-research suite, CANTAB eclipse and CANTAB connect

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  10. Paper-based, non-computerized, cognitive test data

    Paper-based, non-computerized, cognitive test data are data from such as IQ equivalent (e.g. MWT-A), MMSE, MOCA, MMQ, Mini-Cog, etc.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  11. Socio-economic Information 1

    Soci-economic information is collected by FIMA

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  12. Socio-economic Information 2

    Soci-economic information is collected by a questionnaire according to Nikolaus 1. Subscale

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  13. Comorbidities

    Comorbidities are new diagnoses from hospital records.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  14. Charlson comorbidity index

    Comorbidity scores

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  15. Lifestyle Risks 1

    Consumption of alcohol per week.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  16. Lifestyle Risks 2

    Consumption of tobacco and nicotine is measured by Fagerström Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD). Questionnaire scored 0-10 points with Total Score equal to the sum of all points

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  17. Level of education

    Level of education is measured by ISCED

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  18. Incidence of postoperative delirium

    Incidence of postoperative delirium is measured by DDS, DSM-V, CAM/CAM-ICU, NuDESC and Chart review

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  19. Duration of postoperative delirium

    The Duration of postoperative Delirium is measured in days

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  20. Severity of postoperative delirium 1

    Severity of delirium 1 is measured by Delirium Detection Score (DDS). The DDS is composed of eight criteria (orientation, hallucination, agitation, anxiety, seizures, tremor, paroxysmal sweating, and altered sleep- wake rhythm). Each item is cored 0,1,4, or 7 points for a possible total score of 0 to 56). Positive if >7.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  21. Severity of postoperative delirium 2

    Severity of delirium 2 is measured by Confusion assessment method-short (CAM-S). This is a CAM-based scoring system for delirium severity. The CAM-S uses the same items as the original CAM and rates each symptom 0 for absent, 1 for mild, or 2 for marked; acute onset of fluctuation receives 0 (absent) or 1 (present) (scored 0-10, higher worse).

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  22. Severity of postoperative delirium 3

    Severity of delirium 3 is measured by DSR-R-98. DRS-R-98 is 16 items clinician rated scale. Total Item: 16 = 3 (for diagnosis) + 13 (for severity).

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  23. Severity of postoperative delirium 4

    Severity of delirium 4 is measured by ICDSC. Give a score of "1" to each of the 8 items below if the patient clearly meets the criteria defined in the scoring instructions. Give a score of "0" if there is no manifestation orunable to score. If the patient scores >4, notify the physician. The diagnosis of delirium is made following clinical assessment. assessment.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  24. Severity of postoperative delirium 5

    Severity of delirium 5 is measured by Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC). The Nu-DESC is a scale that evaluates the severity of the 5 delirium characteristics on a scale of 0 (not present) to 2 (severe) and takes only 1-2 min to complete, based on the nurses' observations of the patient's behavior during their shifts.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  25. Length of hospital stay

    Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 7 days

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  26. Quality of life - relatives

    Quality of life is measured by CarerQoL

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  27. Quality of life - self 1

    Quality of life is measured by EQ-5D.An index calculated from the five EQ-5D (3L and 5L) dimensions by attaching specific weights to each severity level in each dimension.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  28. Quality of life - self 2

    Quality of life is measured by WHO-5. WHO-5 is a short and generic global rating scale measuring subjective well-being, the respondent is asked to rate how well each of the 5 statements applies to him or her when considering the last 14 days. Each of the 5 items is scored from 5 (all of the time) to 0 (none of the time). The raw score ranges from 0 (absence of well-being) to 25 (maximal well-being). Scores are then converted to a percentage scale from 0 (absent) to 100 (maximal). Higher scores represent greater psychological well-being.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  29. Functional impairment (IADL) 1

    Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) < 8

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  30. Functional impairment (ADL) 2

    Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) < 100

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  31. Depression 1

    Depression 1 is measured by PHQ-8

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  32. Depression 2

    Depression 2 is measured by GDS

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  33. Anxiety scales

    Anxiety is measured by GAD-7

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  34. Pain

    Pain is measured by different scales, e.g. Numeric Rating Scale

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  35. Depth of sedation

    The sedation is emasured intraoperatively processed electroencephalogram (EEG) Full-brain EEG recording with surface electrodes, raw EEG analysis measured during the operation.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  36. Sedation

    Sedation is measured by the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  37. Type of operation

    Type of operation is measured by OPS-Code.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  38. Type of anesthesia

    There are four main categories of anesthesia used during surgery and other procedures: general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, sedation (sometimes called "monitored anesthesia care"), and local anesthesia.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  39. Type of concomitant medication

    The medication administered during the hospital stay is documented.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  40. Anticholinergic Load

    Measured by anticholinergic drug scale

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  41. Frailty

    Frailty is measured with a modified frailty score according to Fried´s frailty phenotype assessment.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  42. Number of participants with changes in laboratory values 1

    Laboratory results in the hospital including hemoglobin, lymphocytes, total neutrophils, platelet count, white blood cell (WBC) count and inflammatory markers from blood samples.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  43. Number of participants with changes in laboratory values 2

    Laboratory results in the hospital from serum samples

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  44. Number of participants with changes in laboratory values 3

    Laboratory results in the hospital from urine samples

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  45. Number of participants with changes in laboratory values 4

    Laboratory results in the hospital from stool samples

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  46. Perioperative Electroencephalography

    Electroencephalography (EEG)- Mapping with electrodes.

    Measured: During hospital stay an expected avarage of 7 days

  47. Nutritional status 1

    Nutritional status 1 is measured by calf circumference

    Measured: Up to five years

  48. Nutritional status 2

    Nutritional status 2 is measured by arm circumference

    Measured: Up to five years

  49. Nutritional status 3

    Nutritional status 3 is measured by changes in weight

    Measured: Up to five years

  50. Nutritional status 4

    Nutritional status 4 is measured by changes in body mass index

    Measured: Up to five years

  51. Nutritional status 5

    Nutritional status 5 is measured by questions regarding microbiome

    Measured: Up to five years

  52. Nutritional status 6

    Nutritional status 6 is measured by Medi-Score

    Measured: Up to five years

  53. Nutritional status 7

    Nutritional status 7 is measured by MNA-SF

    Measured: Up to five years

  54. Nutritional status 8

    Nutritional status 8 is measured by Sarcopenia, which is identified by criterion 1: low muscle strength, criterion 2: low muscle quantity and criterion 3: low physical performance. Probable sarcopenia is identified by Criterion 1. Diagnosis is confirmed by additional documentation of Criterion 2.

    If Criteria 1, 2 and 3 are all met, sarcopenia is considered severe.

    Measured: Up to five years

  55. Inhospital diet

    Inhospital diet is measured by patient record.

    Measured: Up to five years

  56. Eating habits

    Eating habits are measured by patient survey.

    Measured: Up to five years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Jul 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 2009
  3. Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
5,000 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02832193
Sponsor's protocol ID
POCD-Registry
Status last verified
Nov 2025
First submitted
28 Jun 2016
Last updated
26 Nov 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Rasmussen LS, Larsen K, Houx P, Skovgaard LT, Hanning CD, Moller JT; ISPOCD group. The International Study of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction. The assessment of postoperative cognitive function. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2001 Mar;45(3):275-89. doi: 10.1034/j.1399-6576.2001.045003275.x.

    PubMed 11207462
  • Evered L, Silbert B, Knopman DS, Scott DA, DeKosky ST, Rasmussen LS, Oh ES, Crosby G, Berger M, Eckenhoff RG; Nomenclature Consensus Working Group. Recommendations for the nomenclature of cognitive change associated with anaesthesia and surgery-2018. Br J Anaesth. 2018 Nov;121(5):1005-1012. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2017.11.087. Epub 2018 Jun 15.

    PubMed 30336844

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction, run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 2 sites in Germany.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Claudia Spies, MD, Prof. (+49 30 450 5510 01, claudia.spies@charite.de), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD) (time frame: Up to 1 year). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02832193, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Nov 2025.

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