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Cardiac Surgery, the Incidence and Impact of Chronic postOperative Pain: a Survey (Cardiac COPS)

5 juni 2026 bijgewerkt door: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
This survey study aims to investigate the incidence of Chronic post surgical pain (CPSP) in cardiac surgery patients treated at UZ Leuven. The primary hypothesis is that the incidence of CPSP at 3 months postoperatively is lower than 33%, which is the rate commonly reported in the literature. Secondary objectives include comparing CPSP incidence based on the type of surgical incision, as well as comparing incidences between type of surgery. Finally, the study will assess pain intensity, interference with daily activities, and quality of life of 3 months and when required also at 1 years postoperatively.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Werving

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a significant and under-recognized complication following cardiac surgery, with incidence estimates ranging from 11% to 39% at 6-12 months and persisting in a notable minority for years postoperatively. Recent prospective cohort studies have demonstrated that nearly one in three patients report pain at 3 months, and approximately 15% continue to experience pain at 1 year after cardiac surgery. Long-term follow-up data indicate that up to 10% of patients may have persistentend pain, with substantial impact on health-related quality of life.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses confirm that CPSP after cardiac surgery is common, with moderate to severe pain intensity reported in up to half of affected patients, and neuropathic pain phenotypes are frequently observed. The chest remains the primary location, but pain may also involve the leg, especially in cases with saphenous vein harvesting. Risk factors consistently identified include younger age, female sex, pre-existing chronic pain, preoperative depression or anxiety, high acute postoperative pain scores, and intraoperative factors such as remifentanil infusion and prolonged operative time.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, in its recent practice advisories, emphasizes the importance of multimodal analgesia and individualized pain management strategies to mitigate CPSP risk and improve postoperative outcomes. Despite advances in perioperative care, there remains considerable variability in pain management practices and a lack of consensus guidelines, underscoring the urgent need for further research and standardized approaches. Collectively, these findings establish CPSP after cardiac surgery as a clinically relevant problem with substantial patient and healthcare system burden, justifying the need for rigorous investigation into its mechanisms, risk factors, and preventive strategies.

In the UZ Leuven we have standardized our perioperative care and pain management. The alarming incidence of CPSP is not observed in our center, however, this is possibly due to lack of systematic follow-up. The current study aims to bridge this gap and guide future research within our hospital.

Studietype

Observationeel

Inschrijving (Geschat)

1000

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Contact Back-up

Studie Locaties

    • Vlaams Brabant
      • Leuven, Vlaams Brabant, België, 3000
        • Werving
        • University Hospital Leuven
        • Contact:

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Volwassen
  • Oudere volwassene

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Nee

Bemonsteringsmethode

Kanssteekproef

Studie Bevolking

The study will include all adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery over a 1-year period at UZ Leuven, totaling approximately 1200 cases. With an expected response rate of 80%, the final sample size is estimated at 1000 patients. This sample size is considered sufficient to obtain robust estimates of both early and long-term incidence of CPSP following cardiac surgery at UZ Leuven to support future prospective studies.

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adults, aged ≥ 18 years of age, who underwent cardiac surgery (valvular, coronary bypass, other intracardiac or aortic surgery) during the 1 year recruitment period
  2. Able to provide informed consent
  3. Able to respond by telephone

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Deceased
  2. Refusal
  3. Chronic pain in the surgical region

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

Cohorten en interventies

Groep / Cohort
Hartoperatie

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Incidence of chronic post surgical pain
Tijdsspanne: 3 months
Numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain (persistent or recurrent) longer than 3 months present, the apin began or increased in intensity after surgery, the pain is in the surgical area and persisted for at least 3 months after the initiation event, and is not better accounted for by an infection, malignancy, a pre-existing pain condition or alternative.
3 months

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Chronic post surgical pain
Tijdsspanne: 1 year
Numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain (persistent or recurrent) longer than 3 months present, the apin began or increased in intensity after surgery, the pain is in the surgical area and persisted for at least 3 months after the initiation event, and is not better accounted for by an infection, malignancy, a pre-existing pain condition or alternative.
1 year
Brief pain inventory (BPI)
Tijdsspanne: 3 months
Details from the BPI (short-form) will be evaluated via telephone call during which pain severity score (mean of items worst pain, least pain and current pain) and pain interference score (mean of interference of pain with general activity, mood, walking, work, relations, sleep enjoyment of life) will be assessed. All items will be assessed on a score of 0-10, with 0 being no pain or interference and 10 the worst pain or impact.
3 months
Quality of life 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L)
Tijdsspanne: 3 months

The EQ-5D-5L evaluates Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression. These domains are score on 5 levels (no problem (1) to extreme problem (5), with higher numbers indicating worse health status. A patient rated assessment of they overall health EQ visual analoge score (EQ VAS) with 0 being the worst score up to 100 being the best score.

The digits-string of the EQ-5D-5L is converted into a single index value based on the Belgian set to have a country-specific scoring algorithm with max of 1.0, reflecting perfect health, down to negative (-0.59) values representing health status 'worse than dead'.

3 months
Brief pain inventory (BPI)
Tijdsspanne: 1 year
Details from the BPI (short-form) will be evaluated via telephone call during which pain severity score (mean of items worst pain, least pain and current pain) and pain interference score (mean of interference of pain with general activity, mood, walking, work, relations, sleep enjoyment of life) will be assessed. All items will be assessed on a score of 0-10, with 0 being no pain or interference and 10 the worst pain or impact.
1 year
Quality of life 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L)
Tijdsspanne: 1 year

The EQ-5D-5L evaluates Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression. These domains are score on 5 levels (no problem (1) to extreme problem (5), with higher numbers indicating worse health status. A patient rated assessment of they overall health EQ visual analoge score (EQ VAS) with 0 being the worst score up to 100 being the best score.

The digits-string of the EQ-5D-5L is converted into a single index value based on the Belgian set to have a country-specific scoring algorithm with max of 1.0, reflecting perfect health, down to negative values (-0.59) representing health status 'worse than dead'.

1 year

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Werkelijk)

1 juni 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

31 augustus 2027

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

31 mei 2028

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

1 juni 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

5 juni 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

11 juni 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

11 juni 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

5 juni 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 mei 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

JA

Beschrijving IPD-plan

The trial protocol, statistical analysis plan, de-identified participant data (including data dictionary), statistical code, and additional study materials are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request danny.hoogma@uzleuven.be.

IPD-tijdsbestek voor delen

Following publication of the manuscript for 5 years

IPD-toegangscriteria voor delen

Researchers will be granted access upon presenting a approved study plan and signed data transfer agreement.

IPD delen Ondersteunend informatietype

  • LEERPROTOCOOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • MVO

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

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