New nomenclature: Clarion call or siren song. Reply to: perioperative cognitive disorders

Editor—We thank Evered and Eckenhoff¹ for their great interest in our editorial.² We agree entirely with their perspective that much previous research into postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) is tainted, and that methodological weaknesses have led to incorrect conclusions. For example, the most reliable evidence (e.g. from randomized controlled trials) suggests that persistent POCD (both mild and major neurocognitive disorders [postoperative]) is likely to be a post hoc ergo propter hoc (after this therefore because of this) misattribution fallacy.³ We hope, as they do, that future research into this topic will be more rigorous.

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