The association between preoperative anxiety and chronic post-surgical pain after general anaesthesia, a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pooled result · Association between preoperative anxiety and CPSPResult — go to the resultSMD 0.31 95% CI 0.20–0.41Authors' conclusion
There is moderate-quality evidence indicating a positive association between preoperative anxiety and CPSP, where an increase in preoperative anxiety correlates with an increased incidence of CPSP.
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing surgery under GA, preoperative anxiety measured with validated tools, postoperative pain ≥3 months after surgery23 studies in meta-analysis
- Comparison
- Increased vs lower preoperative anxiety
- Outcome
- Incidence of new chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP)
- Follow-up
- At least 3 months after surgery
Methodological detailsPRISMA guidelines, risk of bias analysis
- PRISMA guidelines
- Risk of bias analysis
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Association between preoperative anxiety and CPSP
SMD
0.31
95% CI 0.20–0.41
Increased vs lower preoperative anxiety
SMD 0.31 (95% CI 0.20–0.41)
Further pooled results
Subgroup analysis
- Subgroup analysis did not alter the outcome
NRS pain increase with preoperative anxiety
- Increase in NRS pain for patients with preoperative anxiety
- 0.34
Original publication
The association between preoperative anxiety and chronic post-surgical pain after general anaesthesia, a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJA Open. Published 6 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →