Cardiothoracic & vascular anaesthesia
Diabetes mellitus and the risk of postoperative visual and auditory hallucinations after cardiac surgery: insights from the VAACS study
Authors' conclusion
Higher preoperative HbA1c and blood glucose were associated with postoperative hallucination risk, particularly in diabetic patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients after cardiac surgery
- Exposure
- Diabetic vs non-diabetic patients
- Outcome
- Incidence of visual and auditory hallucinations (Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences, assessed daily)
- Follow-up
- 7 days
Methodological detailsmulticenter
- Multicenter
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Visual and auditory hallucinations
Visual and auditory hallucinations
Auditory hallucinations
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Predictors of hallucinations in diabetic patients (Cox regression)
- Preoperative HbA1c, visual hallucinations, aHR
- 1.29 (1.05-1.59) (95% CI)
- Preoperative HbA1c, auditory hallucinations, aHR
- 1.37 (1.07-1.76) (95% CI)
- Preoperative blood glucose, visual hallucinations, aHR
- 1.011 (1.002-1.020) (95% CI)
- Preoperative blood glucose, auditory hallucinations, aHR
- 1.013 (1.003-1.024) (95% CI)
- Morphine use, auditory hallucinations, aHR (95% CI); not significant after adjustment
- 0.57 (0.29-1.12)
- Longer postoperative mechanical ventilation, auditory hallucinations, aHR (95% CI); interpret cautiously (assessment began after extubation)
- 0.80 (0.71-0.91)
Predictors of hallucinations in non-diabetic patients (Cox regression)
- Hemodialysis dependence, visual hallucinations, aHR
- 6.99 (1.59-30.61) (95% CI)
- Critical preoperative state, auditory hallucinations, aHR
- 2.70 (1.23-5.93) (95% CI)
- Higher EuroSCORE II, auditory hallucinations, aHR
- 1.10 (1.05-1.15) (95% CI)
Original publication
Diabetes mellitus and the risk of postoperative visual and auditory hallucinations after cardiac surgery: insights from the VAACS study. Perioper Med (Lond). Published 14 July 2026. doi:10.
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