Calibre uses your old settings unless you take special steps to remove them.
So Updates usually just happen with no pain
Also, The Library (metadata.db) contains Library specific settings and those do NOT change with updates.
So, if you are havin 'sort' issues. They have been there all along and something you are now doing has exposed them.

QUALITY CHECK PLUGIN

This can check various items within your metadata. I would start with having it check sorts, author initials (Fix has the repair that matches your setting for those)