Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Association of chronic poststernotomy pain and health-related quality of life: a prospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Chronic poststernotomy pain still affects patient recovery at six and 12 months after cardiac surgery. The severity of that pain is poorly correlated with patients' quality of life.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with median sternotomy, September 2020–March 2021response rate 65%
- Participants
- 252 patients
- Outcome
- Association between CPSP severity and health-related quality of life (Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, EQ-5D-5L)
- Follow-up
- Six months
Methodological detailssingle-centre, Telephone interviews at six and 12 months postoperatively
- Single-centre
- Telephone interviews at six and 12 months postoperatively
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Correlation between pain scores and EQ-5D-5L
Spearman's correlation coefficient (weak)
−0.3
Chronic poststernotomy pain (CPSP) at six months
Twenty-nine percent (72/252)
More than mild pain (score ≥ 2/5) at six months
14%
41/252
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Persistent pain at 12 months (among 6-month CPSP respondents)
- Responded at 12 months
- 89% (64/72)
- Still reported pain
- 47% (30/64)
Risk factors for CPSP at six months
- Higher pain score on POD 1, history of chronic pain before surgery, and history of depression were risk factors
- Intraoperative dexmedetomidine or ketamine infusion associated with reduced risk of CPSP
- Multivariable regression
Original publication
Association of chronic poststernotomy pain and health-related quality of life: a prospective cohort study. Can J Anaesth. Published 29 February 2024. doi:10.
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