Supplements

Polysomnographic parameters, particularly sleep latency and arousal index, are sensitive early markers of neurocognitive dysfunction following cardiac surgery, and perioperative Citicoline mitigates neurocognitive decline and stabilizes sleep-wake cycles.

In a prospective study of 104 cardiac surgery patients, acute postoperative neurological complications occurred in 35.6% (n=37) on Day 3, and PSG alterations (increased sleep latency, elevated arousal index) on Day 10 correlated with cognitive impairment. In patients with POCD, Citicoline (Group I) showed significant recovery in MoCA scores and faster stabilization of sleep parameters by Day 30 compared to controls (p=0.0016).

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. CEREBROVASCULAR EVENTS AND NEUROCOGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS WITH ALTERATIONS IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC INDICATORS FOLLOWING CARDIAC SURGERY.

observational

Tsitlidze E, Rukhadze I, Verulashvili I, Minyao D · Georgian medical news (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 1 month (postoperative follow-up)
Intervention: Perioperative administration of Citicoline (dose not specified) compared to control group without Citicoline.
Outcome: Cognitive function (MMSE, MoCA), polysomnographic parameters (sleep latency, REM latency, arousal index), acute neurological complications (Day 3), and sleep architecture stabilization (Day 10 and 1 month).
Effect Size: p=0.0016 for MoCA recovery and sleep parameter stabilization in Citicoline group vs control; no effect size (e.g., Cohen's d) reported.
Population: 104 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass who met strict inclusion criteria (from 507 screened); 52 in Citicoline group, 52 in control group.

Result:

PubMed: 42603311

Mechanism Graph

Cardiac surgery with CPB induces postoperative neurological complications and sleep architecture disruptions.
↓
PSG alterations (increased sleep latency, elevated arousal index) on Day 10 correlate with cognitive impairment.
↓
Citicoline administration in perioperative period mitigates neurocognitive decline and facilitates stabilization of sleep-wake cycles.
↓
Result: PSG parameters serve as reliable objective markers for predicting long-term neurological outcomes, and Citicoline improves recovery.

Limitations

  • ⚠Dose of Citicoline not specified, limiting reproducibility.
  • ⚠Strict inclusion criteria (104 of 507 screened) may limit generalizability to broader cardiac surgery population.
  • ⚠No long-term follow-up beyond 1 month; long-term neurological outcomes not assessed.
  • ⚠Potential confounding factors (e.g., baseline comorbidities, surgical complexity) not fully controlled in abstract.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main finding of this study?▼

The study found that polysomnographic parameters (sleep latency, arousal index) are sensitive early markers of neurocognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery, and perioperative Citicoline significantly improves cognitive recovery and sleep-wake cycle stabilization in patients with postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

How many patients were included in the study?▼

104 patients were included (52 in the Citicoline group and 52 in the control group) out of 507 screened.

What cognitive tests were used?▼

Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scales.

What is the significance of the p-value 0.0016?▼

The p-value of 0.0016 indicates a statistically significant improvement in MoCA scores and faster stabilization of sleep parameters in the Citicoline group compared to the control group by Day 30.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Tsitlidze E, Rukhadze I, Verulashvili I, Minyao D. "CEREBROVASCULAR EVENTS AND NEUROCOGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS WITH ALTERATIONS IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC INDICATORS FOLLOWING CARDIAC SURGERY.." Georgian medical news, 2026. PMID: 42603311
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.