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Sex Differences, Sleep Disturbance and Risk of Persistent Pain Associated With Groin Hernia Surgery : A Nationwide Register-Based Cohort Study

Bjurström, Martin F. LU ; Irwin, Michael R. ; Chen, David C. ; Smith, Michael T. and Montgomery, Agneta LU (2021) In Journal of Pain 22(11). p.1360-1370
Abstract

Persistent pain after groin hernia repair is a major health problem. Sleep disturbance is associated with heightened pain sensitivity. The main objective of this study was to examine the role of sleep disturbance in the development and long-term maintenance of chronic postherniorrhaphy inguinal pain (CPIP), with exploration of sex differences. From 2012 to 2017, a national cohort of patients with prior groin hernia repair (n = 2084;45.8% females) were assessed for the development of CPIP 12 months after surgery. Patients then underwent long-term (median 5.0 years) follow-up to evaluate the contribution of sex and sleep disturbance on the maintenance of CPIP. Associations between pre- and postoperative sleep problems (assessed at... (More)

Persistent pain after groin hernia repair is a major health problem. Sleep disturbance is associated with heightened pain sensitivity. The main objective of this study was to examine the role of sleep disturbance in the development and long-term maintenance of chronic postherniorrhaphy inguinal pain (CPIP), with exploration of sex differences. From 2012 to 2017, a national cohort of patients with prior groin hernia repair (n = 2084;45.8% females) were assessed for the development of CPIP 12 months after surgery. Patients then underwent long-term (median 5.0 years) follow-up to evaluate the contribution of sex and sleep disturbance on the maintenance of CPIP. Associations between pre- and postoperative sleep problems (assessed at long-term follow-up) and CPIP were tested using logistic regression. Females had higher rates of CPIP with negative impact on daily activities 12 months after surgery as compared to males (14.6 vs 9.2%, P <.0005), and were more likely to have moderate-severe CPIP in the long-term (3.1 vs 1.2%, P =.003). Preoperative sleep problems predicted development of CPIP 12 months after surgery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.76 [95%CI 1.26–2.46], P =.001) and CPIP in the long-term (aOR 2.20 [1.61–3.00], P <.0001). CPIP was associated with insomnia and depression. Sleep disturbance may increase the risk for CPIP, and contribute to maintenance of postsurgical pain. Perspective: Females are at heightened risk for CPIP as compared to males. Increased severity of pain symptoms are linked to poorer sleep and psychiatric morbidity. Given the robust associations between sleep disturbance and CPIP, interventions which consolidate and promote sleep, especially in females, may improve long-term pain control.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Chronic postsurgical pain, groin hernia, pain sensitivity, sex differences, sleep disturbance
in
Journal of Pain
volume
22
issue
11
pages
1360 - 1370
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85107309795
  • pmid:33964413
ISSN
1526-5900
DOI
10.1016/j.jpain.2021.04.008
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
dcf69ff5-5c42-4cda-bf1c-941fccb38440
date added to LUP
2021-06-24 13:48:28
date last changed
2024-06-29 14:01:28
@article{dcf69ff5-5c42-4cda-bf1c-941fccb38440,
  abstract     = {{<p>Persistent pain after groin hernia repair is a major health problem. Sleep disturbance is associated with heightened pain sensitivity. The main objective of this study was to examine the role of sleep disturbance in the development and long-term maintenance of chronic postherniorrhaphy inguinal pain (CPIP), with exploration of sex differences. From 2012 to 2017, a national cohort of patients with prior groin hernia repair (n = 2084;45.8% females) were assessed for the development of CPIP 12 months after surgery. Patients then underwent long-term (median 5.0 years) follow-up to evaluate the contribution of sex and sleep disturbance on the maintenance of CPIP. Associations between pre- and postoperative sleep problems (assessed at long-term follow-up) and CPIP were tested using logistic regression. Females had higher rates of CPIP with negative impact on daily activities 12 months after surgery as compared to males (14.6 vs 9.2%, P &lt;.0005), and were more likely to have moderate-severe CPIP in the long-term (3.1 vs 1.2%, P =.003). Preoperative sleep problems predicted development of CPIP 12 months after surgery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.76 [95%CI 1.26–2.46], P =.001) and CPIP in the long-term (aOR 2.20 [1.61–3.00], P &lt;.0001). CPIP was associated with insomnia and depression. Sleep disturbance may increase the risk for CPIP, and contribute to maintenance of postsurgical pain. Perspective: Females are at heightened risk for CPIP as compared to males. Increased severity of pain symptoms are linked to poorer sleep and psychiatric morbidity. Given the robust associations between sleep disturbance and CPIP, interventions which consolidate and promote sleep, especially in females, may improve long-term pain control.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bjurström, Martin F. and Irwin, Michael R. and Chen, David C. and Smith, Michael T. and Montgomery, Agneta}},
  issn         = {{1526-5900}},
  keywords     = {{Chronic postsurgical pain; groin hernia; pain sensitivity; sex differences; sleep disturbance}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11}},
  pages        = {{1360--1370}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Pain}},
  title        = {{Sex Differences, Sleep Disturbance and Risk of Persistent Pain Associated With Groin Hernia Surgery : A Nationwide Register-Based Cohort Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2021.04.008}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jpain.2021.04.008}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}