Overview
- The study presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 and reported Oct. 19–20, 2026 found patients who said they walked plus did moderate or vigorous activity at least seven times a week had about half the risk of postoperative delirium compared with less active patients.
- Researchers ran a retrospective, matched case-control analysis of 258 tumor-removal surgeries from 2024–2025 that compared 64 patients who developed delirium with 194 who did not.
- Delirium was identified by a positive Confusion Assessment Method test and preoperative activity was measured by patient self-report of walking, moderate and vigorous activity, and sitting time.
- Authors caution the design leaves room for recall bias and confounding, so the finding does not prove cause and should not change practice until larger randomized or well-controlled prospective studies confirm it.
- Clinically, the result adds to growing interest in 'prehabilitation' and the authors advise patients to talk with their surgical team about safe ways to stay active because lower preoperative activity was linked to more sitting, longer recovery, and higher risk of complications.