Genetic Variants and Postoperative Pain

January 5, 2026 updated by: Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
Prospective observational study to analyse patients' pain related outcome after surgery and ist association to genetic variants and non-genetic variables.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

Background

Severe acute pain as well as long-lasting pain after surgery and pain-related interference of daily activities are frequent. Some risk factors for severe pain after surgery in adults have been described, e.g. younger age and pre-existing chronic pain. The question arises whether a specific genetic background is related to an unfavorable pain outcome.

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate clinical and genetic variables and their possible association to severe acute postoperative pain, higher analgesic consumption and the development of chronic postsurgical pain.

Methods

Prospective observational study investigating clinical, patient related, surgery related and anesthesia related variables as well as genetic variants and their possible association to patients' pain related outcome after surgery.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

5000

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

      • Bern, Switzerland, 3010
        • Recruiting
        • Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, University of Bern
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ulrike M Stamer, MD
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult patients scheduled for elective surgery

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years and older
  • Written informed consent
  • Elective surgery
  • Patients' ability to understand the purpose of the study

Exclusion Criteria

  • No informed consent
  • Cognitive impairment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
All patients
Patients undergoing elective surgery with anesthesia

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain related impairment after surgery and its association to genetic and non-genetic variables
Time Frame: day of surgery up to 1 year after surgery
Measured by the International Pain Outcomes Questionnaire, the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI): Numeric rating scale for pain intensities, affective and physical interference; Composite score = pain interference total scores (PITS scale 0-10) resulting in no interference (PITS=0), mild interference (PITS >0 and <2), moderate interference (PITS 2-5) and severe interference (PITS >5)
day of surgery up to 1 year after surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Association of genetic and non-genetic variables with analgesic consumption
Time Frame: day of surgery up to one year after surgery
analgesic consumption
day of surgery up to one year after surgery
Association of genetic and non-genetic variables with pain related outcome of patients 1 year after surgery
Time Frame: Up to one year after surgery

Measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) as pain interference total score PITS scale 0-10) resulting in no interference (PITS=0), mild interference (PITS >0 and <2), moderate interference (PITS 2-5) and severe interference (PITS >5).

Change of pain related impairment over time (before surgery, 2 days after surgery, 6 and 12 months after surgery)

Up to one year after surgery
Association of genetic and non-genetic variables with chronic neuropathic postsurgical pain
Time Frame: up to one year after surgery
Measured by a neuropathic pain questionnaire (number of neuropathic symptoms; at least three neuropathic symptoms are categorized as positive)
up to one year after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ulrike M Stamer, MD, Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, University of Bern
  • Study Chair: Ulrike Stamer, Prof. MD, Department of Anaestheisolpogy + Pain Medicine, Inselspital, University of Bern

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 2, 2011

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 29, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 29, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

April 5, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

January 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 5, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 041/09c Schmerz

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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