Age-dependent electroencephalogram characteristics during different levels of anesthetic depth

Objective: The monitoring of anesthetic depth based on electroencephalogram (EEG) derivation is not currently adjusted for age. Here we analyze the influence of age factors on EEG characteristics. Methods Frontal EEG recordings were obtained from 80 adults during routine clinical anesthesia. The characteristics of EEG with age and anesthesia were observed during four kinds of anesthesia. Results Relative slow wave power, relative delta power, absolute slow wave power, BIS value and approximate entropy were statistically different in the adjacent anesthesia states (P < 0.05). Under very deep anesthesia, the relative slow wave power increases linearly with age (R 2  = 0.1802; P = 0.0001), the relative delta power decreased linearly with age (R 2  = 0.3587; P < 0.0001), the BIS value increased linearly with age (R 2  = 0.0986; P = 0.005), and the approximate entropy increases linearly with age (R 2  = 0.0565; P = 0.036). The relative slow wave power did not change in an age-dependent manner. Conclusions When using relative delta power, absolute slow wave power, BIS value and approximate entropy to monitor the depth of anesthesia, the influence of age should be considered, However, when using relative slow wave power, age should not be considered.