Chronic pain: a modifiable target to reduce perioperative cardiovascular morbidity

Shafaq Sikandar; Gareth L Ackland

doi:10.1016/j.bja.2024.11.019

Chronic pain: a modifiable target to reduce perioperative cardiovascular morbidity

Br J Anaesth. 2024 Dec 11:S0007-0912(24)00696-2. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.11.019. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shafaq Sikandar¹, Gareth L Ackland²

Affiliations

¹ Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
² Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. Electronic address: g.ackland@qmul.ac.uk.

PMID: 39668055
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.11.019

Abstract

Recent epidemiological studies suggest that chronic pain is a clinically under-recognised cause for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Up to 30% of patients undergoing surgery report chronic pain, but the impact of pre-existing pain on postoperative cardiovascular outcomes is not known. Chronic pain and cardiovascular dysfunction share fundamental pathological mechanisms. Chronic pain is a modifiable risk factor for perioperative cardiovascular morbidity.

Keywords: cardiovascular complications; chronic pain; inflammation; noncardiac surgery; perioperative care; postoperative outcome.

Publication types

Editorial