Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Association between preoperative anxiety and case cancellations: Prospective study
Authors' conclusion
A significant level of preoperative anxiety occurs in one out of 5 patients and is an independent predictor of surgical case cancellations.
Study context
- Population
- Surgical cases at Montefiore Medical Center, April 2023–January 2025
- Participants
- 6,469 cases
- Exposure
- High vs low preoperative anxiety
- High anxietyn = 1,248
- Low anxietyn = 5,221reference
- Outcome
- Same-day case cancellation
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
High anxiety vs Low anxietyRisk difference (95% CI)P value
High anxiety
1.7%(0.1%–3.3%)
P = 0.025High anxiety vs Low anxietyAdjusted relative risk (95% CI)P value
Adjusted for known predictors
1.29(1.04–1.62)
P = 0.023- Attributable risk fraction of high anxiety
- 22.1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aOR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dose-response: same-day case cancellation per NRS anxiety score increase (0-10)Dose-dependent | 1.04 (1.01–1.08) | P = 0.019 | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Attributable risk fraction of high anxiety for same-day case cancellation
- Attributable risk fraction
- 22.1%
Prevalence of high preoperative anxiety and documented anxiety diagnosis
- High preoperative anxiety (NRS ≥5)
- 1248 (19.3%)
- Documented anxiety diagnosis among high-anxiety patients
- 9.5%
Most frequently reported concerns
- Complications in surgery
- 1147 (17.7%)
- Postoperative complications
- 811 (12.5%)
- Pain
- 682 (10.5%)
Original publication
Association between preoperative anxiety and case cancellations: Prospective study. J Clin Anesth. Published 20 April 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →