• Jarett V Pereira, Rohan M Sanjanwala, Mohammed K Mohammed, Me-Linh Le, and Rakesh C Arora.
• From the Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (JVP), Cardiac Sciences Program, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RMS, RCA), Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia (MKM), Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (M-LL) and Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RCA).
• Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2020 Feb 1; 37 (2): 121-131.

BackgroundDelirium is common in the ICU, with incidence rates reported to be upwards of 70%. Due to the significant morbidity and mortality associated with delirium, it is hypothesised that a delirium-free sedative agent will improve outcomes in older adults admitted to the ICU.ObjectivesTo assess if dexmedetomidine sedation is associated with a reduction in ICU delirium among older adults, and to evaluate its risks and benefits compared with propofol sedation.DesignSystematic review of randomised controlled trials and cohort studies with meta-analyses.Data SourcesArticles published from database inception to 8 April 2019 were retrieved from Medline, EMBASE, Evidence-based Medicine Reviews, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO Trials.EligibilityStudies were included if they compared dexmedetomidine sedation with propofol in the ICU, reported the incidence of delirium as an outcome and had a mean/median sample age of at least 60. Studies that examined dexmedetomidine and propofol use intra-operatively or as part of general anaesthesia were excluded.ResultsDexmedetomidine sedation was associated with a lower incidence of delirium when compared with propofol: seven studies, n=1249; risk ratio 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52 to 0.95; P = 0.02. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of bradycardia: three studies, n=278; risk ratio 1.52; 95% CI 0.85 to 2.72; P = 0.16, and hypotension: six studies, n=867 patients; risk ratio 1.12; 95% CI 0.86 to 1.45; P = 0.42. Dexmedetomidine sedation did not reduce hospital length of stay, ICU length of stay or duration of mechanical ventilation compared with propofol.ConclusionCompared with propofol, dexmedetomidine sedation in the ICU is associated with lower delirium incidence among older adults with no significant increase in adverse events. In older adult ICU patients at risk of developing delirium, sedation with dexmedetomidine should be considered. Further research is warranted to elucidate and explain the mechanisms underlying this process, and to confirm our findings with large, multicentre trials.Trial RegistrationThe study protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018099339).

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