Recommendation 3.1	Quality of the evidence	Strength of recommendation
In patients undergoing surgery, we do not suggest the use of any drug as a prophylactic measure to reduce the incidence of POD.	Low Mei et al., 201860 Yang et al., 201541 Su et al., 201642 Deiner et al., 201743 Lee et al., 201844 Kim et al., 201945 Sun et al., 201946 Xin et al., 202155 Zhang et al., 202055 Shi et al., 202047 Li et al., 202048 Hu et al., 202149 Hong et al., 202150 Li et al., 201751 Subramaniam et al., 201935 Turan et al., 202052 Likhvantsev et al., 202153 Van Norden et al., 202154 Djaiani et al., 201657 Azeem et al., 201858 Momeni et al., 202159	Weak

Recommendation 3.2	Quality of the evidence	Strength of recommendation
When dexmedetomidine is used intra-operatively or postoperatively with the aim to prevent POD, we recommend balancing the expected benefits against the most important side effects (bradycardia and hypotension).	Moderate Djaiani et al., 201657 Su et al., 201642 Li et al., 201751 Deiner et al., 201743 Subramaniam et al. 201935 Sun et al., 201946 Xin et al., 202155 Zhang et al., 202056 Turan et al., 202052 Shi et al., 202047 Li et al., 202048 Hu et al., 202149 Hong et al., 202150 Van Norden et al., 202152	Strong