Age Differences in Patients With Postoperative Pain and Their Relationships to Comorbid Conditions: Multivariate...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Gerontology
• Pain Medicine

Background:

• Acute postoperative pain is a significant concern for patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
• Age is a potential factor influencing pain perception and reporting in the postoperative period.
• Understanding age-related differences in pain is crucial for effective pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between patient age and the incidence of severe acute postoperative pain.
• To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with severe pain after abdominal surgery.
• To inform age-specific pain management strategies for nurse anesthetists.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 2,600 adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
• Patients categorized into three age groups: 18-44, 45-64, and ≥ 65 years.
• Statistical analysis included Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression to assess pain severity (≥ 7 on numeric rating scale) and associated factors.

Main Results:

• Patients aged ≥ 65 years had a significantly lower likelihood of reporting severe postoperative pain (OR, 0.48; CI, 0.39-0.60) compared to younger adults (18-44 years).
• Middle-aged patients (45-64 years) also showed a reduced likelihood of severe pain (OR, 0.77; CI, 0.63-0.91).
• Factors associated with increased likelihood of severe pain included female sex, history of chronic pain, and presence of depression/anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Older adults (≥ 65 years) are significantly less likely to experience severe acute postoperative pain following major abdominal surgery.
• Female sex, chronic pain history, and psychological comorbidities increase the risk of severe postoperative pain.
• Awareness of age-specific pain patterns can guide nurse anesthetists in optimizing postoperative pain management and improving patient outcomes.