Melatonin's safety and effectiveness for preventing confusion after surgery

In a review of 16 randomized controlled trials involving 1981 patients, the incidence of postoperative delirium was significantly lower in the treatment group with a risk ratio of 0.57.

• Higher doses of melatonin resulted in a reduced incidence of postoperative delirium, with a risk ratio of 0.41 compared to the control group.
• Low-dose melatonin and the melatonin agonist ramelteon did not show a significant benefit in preventing postoperative delirium.
• Treatment with melatonin was particularly effective in reducing postoperative delirium in the early postoperative period, with a risk ratio of 0.35.
• Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary surgery also experienced a lower incidence of postoperative delirium when treated with melatonin, indicated by a risk ratio of 0.54.
• No severe adverse events were reported with perioperative melatonin or melatonin agonist treatment.

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