Effect of preoperative anxiety on postoperative pain on patients undergoing elective surgery: Prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is a feeling of tension, apprehension, nervousness, fear, discomfort, and high autonomic activity with varying degrees of intensity resulting from anticipation of danger. Post-operative pain is associated with the emotional status, behavioural response, and high anxiety index of patients. This study aimed to assess the effect of preoperative anxiety on Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery. METHODS: An institutional-based prospective cohort study was conducted on patients scheduled for elective surgeries from November 1, 2019, to October 30, 2020, in Dilla University Referral Hospital. Data was collected by pretested questionnaires and analysed by SPSS version 20. Categorical data were analysed by chi-square while Continuous data were analysed by student t-test and Mann Whitney U for parametric and nonparametric data respectively with a P-value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULT: As our finding revealed patients with high preoperative anxiety experienced significantly increased postoperative pain at 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 12 h with the P-value of 0.012, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.002 respectively and total tramadol consumption in a patient with high preoperative anxiety level is 156.5 ± 23.4 while in low anxiety 147.1 ± 39. with a p-value of 0.036. CONCLUSION: High preoperative anxiety increased the immediate postoperative pain score and 24 h tramadol consumption. It would be better to decrease preoperative anxiety levels to reduce postoperative pain and 24 h analgesic consumption.