Abstract: AIM: To investigate the relationship between human cholesteryl ester transfer protein CETP gene polymorphism and postoperative neurocognitive disorders (PND).  METHODS: A total of 124 elderly patients over 65 years of age who underwent elective non-cardiac surgery were enrolled in the study while 25 healthy volunteers matching age and sex were recruited as the control group. Neuropsychological tests were performed 1 day before surgery, 7 days, and 3 months after surgery. PND was determined using the Z value method. The venous blood sample of the surgical patient was taken before the operation, followed by direct gene sequencing. Statistical methods were used to calculate the correlation between CETP gene polymorphism (rs5882) and PND. RESULTS: The incidence of PND was 29.3% and 18.2% at 7 days and 3 months after operation respectively. The A allele frequency of PND patients was significantly higher than that of non-PND patients 7 days and 3 months after surgery (65.52% vs. 41.43%, 34.48% vs. 58.57%, P=0.001), while the G allele frequency in PND group lower than that of non-PND (58.33% vs. 37.86%，41.67% vs. 62.14%, P=0.004).AA genotype in PND patients was 34.48%, 38.89% at 7 days and 3 months after surgery respectively, significantly higher than 14.29%, 16.05% of non-PND (P=0.023, P=0.029). CONCLUSION: CETP rs5882 polymorphism is associated with PND and AA genotype may be a predisposing factor for postoperative PND in Chinese Han elderly patient.

Key words: cholesteryl ester transfer protein, rs5882, polymorphism, postoperative neurocognitive disorders