Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Pharmacotherapeutic interventions to improve postoperative sleep quality in older adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pooled result · Sleep quality, dexmedetomidine vs placebo (subgroup meta-analysis)Result — go to the resultSMD −0.51 95% CI −0.86 to −0.17Authors' conclusion
Pharmacological interventions potentially improve postoperative sleep in older adults, but current evidence is limited. Dexmedetomidine appears most promising, with potential benefits across administration regimens.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥60 yr undergoing surgery21 RCTs
- Comparison
- Pharmacological interventions to improve postoperative sleep
- Outcome
- Postoperative sleep quality
Methodological detailsrandom-effects meta-analysis, GRADE certainty assessment
- Random-effects meta-analysis
- GRADE certainty assessment
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Sleep quality, dexmedetomidine vs placebo (subgroup meta-analysis)
SMD
−0.51
95% CI −0.86 to −0.17
P < 0.001
Dexmedetomidine vs Placebo
SMD −0.51 (95% CI −0.86 to −0.17); P < 0.001
Further pooled results
Other agents (esketamine, alprazolam, remimazolam, melatonin, zolpidem)
- Evidence for other agents limited
Original publication
Pharmacotherapeutic interventions to improve postoperative sleep quality in older adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Anaesth. Published 15 April 2026. doi:10.
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