Is early-age anesthesia exposure associated with decreased cognitive ability in adolescence? 5 study insights

A study in JAMA Pediatrics investigated the association between anesthesia exposure during childhood and academic performance during adolescence.

The researchers identified 33,514 children who had been exposed to one anesthesia and surgery exposure earlier than 4 years of age and 159,619 matched children who had not been exposed to anesthesia, who were used as controls. They also identified 3,640 children who had undergone multiple surgical procedures before turning 4 years old. Long-term academic and cognitive performance was determined by school grades and IQ test scores.

Here's what you need to know:

1. Exposure to anesthesia earlier than 4 years of age was associated with 0.41 percent lower school grades.

2. Exposure to anesthesia earlier than 4 years of age was associated with 0.97 percent lower IQ test scores.

3. There was no difference in school grades when comparing patients who had undergone one exposure to those who had undergone multiple exposures; there was also no difference in school grades when comparing how early patients received exposure before the age of 4.

4. The overall difference in academic performance between students who received anesthesia and those who did not is less prominent than differences associated with sex, maternal educational level or month of birth.

5. The researchers concluded that anesthesia and surgery before the age of 4 has a small association with later academic performance; however, the "low overall difference in academic performance after childhood exposure to surgery is reassuring."

The researchers also highlighted that these findings "should be interpreted in light of potential adverse effects of postponing surgery."

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