Dementia linked to worse surgical outcomes in older patients

In emergent hernia repair, patients with dementia, constituting 8.2% of 137,755 analyzed, face significantly higher risks. Older individuals with dementia experience increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.29), greater perioperative complications (1.41), and are more likely to be discharged non-home (2.98) compared to those without dementia. Additionally, readmission rates rise (1.11) for this vulnerable population. The findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced perioperative strategies to improve care for elderly patients facing surgery.