Pain Trajectories and Predictors After Noncardiac Surgery in Elderly Patients

Pain Trajectories and Predictors After Noncardiac Surgery in Elderly Patients: a Prospective and Observational Cohort Study

This study will use group-based trajectory modeling to identify the different postoperative pain trajectory groups that exist in a mixed surgical population (non-cardiac surgery) of elderly patients during the first seven days after surgery. The aim of this study is to explore the diversity in the development of postoperative pain among elderly patients and to identify the risk factors for acute pain trajectory after surgery by investigating demographic, psychological, and clinical variables. The predictive effect of different trajectories of early postoperative acute pain on postoperative chronic pain will also be explored.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Scheduled for thoracic, urologic, gastrointestinal, gynecological, liver, biliary/pancreatic, or major orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia
2. Age ≥ 65 years
3. The American Society of Anaesthesiologists(ASA) I to III
4. Duration of hospitalization ≥ 72 hours

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Language disorder;
2. Hearing impairment;
3. Visual impairment;
4. The expected postoperative intubation time is more than 24 hours;
5. Critical events occurred during the perioperative period.