Prevalence and severity of pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances among surgical patients: a nationwide single-day multicentre flash mob study - Report - MDSpire

Prevalence and severity of pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances among surgical patients: a nationwide single-day multicentre flash mob study

  • By

  • Jetske M Stoop

  • Roos Geensen

  • Sophie C Adam

  • Kayleigh A M van Dam

  • Els van Dessel

  • Annemarie Dolmans-Zwartjes

  • Margot Heijmans

  • Audrey C H M Jongen

  • Mirjam Kaijser

  • Chantal A ten Kate

  • Joanna Luttikhold

  • Flores M Metz

  • Laura van Zeggeren

  • PASS-Flash Mob Collaborator Group

  • Antonia S Becker

  • Isabel Berger

  • Annelotte Beutler

  • Lok Sam Samantha Cheng

  • Manon Bindels

  • Marco Dam

  • Thomas L A Dirven

  • Raphael M J Fischer

  • Marleen Goddrie

  • Manuel A Gonçalves Garcia

  • Tanneke Herklots

  • Jens Homan

  • Ellaha Kakar

  • Elize W Lockhorst

  • Joost Nonner

  • Nuray Onayli-Altin

  • Arno Oomen

  • Esther van de Poll

  • Niels Schep

  • Thomas Schok

  • D J A Sonneveld

  • J M E Stam

  • Joline Stolk

  • Tamara Remijn-Rentmeester

  • Natali S Talukder

  • Sarah Vandenhaute

  • Emy van der Valk Bouman

  • Jorrit G Verhoeven

  • Jacqueline E M Vernooij

  • Marieke A Vlek

  • Maud Voesten

  • José H Volders

  • Koen J Vree Egberts

  • Patrick W H E Vriens

  • Selina J Wijbenga

  • Wilhelmina A M van Wijngaarden

  • Helma Zanders

  • Johannes Jeekel

  • Markus Klimek

  • July 17, 2025

  • 0 min

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Assessment of Pain, Anxiety, Stress, and Sleep Disturbances in Surgical Patients

Overview

This nationwide one-day multicenter study in 29 Dutch hospitals found that pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among surgical patients. Moderate to severe pain affected nearly 70% of patients, anxiety and stress about 38%, and sleep disturbances over 60%. These patient-reported outcomes (PROs) occur frequently both pre- and postoperatively and vary by sex and socioeconomic status.

Background

Patient-reported outcomes such as pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances are common during the perioperative period but are not traditionally classified as surgical complications. These factors can adversely affect postoperative recovery, increasing risks such as prolonged hospital stay, cardiovascular events, and chronic pain development. Despite their clinical importance, the exact prevalence of these PROs remains unclear, and they are often overlooked in routine surgical care. This study aimed to quantify their prevalence and severity across multiple surgical specialties excluding neurosurgery, cardiothoracic, and orthopedic surgery.

Data Highlights

OutcomePrevalence (%)SeverityTiming
Moderate to severe pain69.7Higher postoperativelyPost-surgery
Anxiety38.1Higher preoperativelyPre-surgery
Moderate to severe stress37.8Similar pre- and post-surgeryBoth
Sleep disturbances64.1More severe in lower socioeconomic statusBoth

Key Findings

  • 69.7% of surgical patients reported moderate to severe pain, predominantly postoperatively.
  • 38.1% experienced anxiety, with higher severity before surgery.
  • 37.8% reported moderate to severe stress, with similar levels before and after surgery.
  • 64.1% suffered from sleep disturbances, more severe in patients with lower socioeconomic status.
  • Female patients reported more severe pain and anxiety compared to males.
  • These PROs are not currently classified as surgical complications despite their high prevalence and impact.

Clinical Implications

Given the high prevalence and severity of pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances in surgical patients, these patient-reported outcomes should be routinely assessed before and after surgery. Recognizing these factors as complications may improve postoperative management and recovery. Tailored interventions addressing these PROs, especially in vulnerable groups such as females and patients with lower socioeconomic status, could enhance overall surgical care quality.

Conclusion

Pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances are common and significant issues in the perioperative period that warrant routine evaluation and management. Incorporating these patient-reported outcomes into standard postoperative care protocols may improve recovery and reduce complications.

References

  1. Original Article 2024 -- Assessment of Pain, Anxiety, Stress, and Sleep Disturbances in Surgical Patients

Original Source(s)

Prevalence and severity of pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances among surgical patients: a nationwide single-day multicentre flash mob study

  • by Jetske M Stoop, Roos Geensen, Sophie C Adam, Kayleigh A M van Dam, Els van Dessel, Annemarie Dolmans-Zwartjes, Margot Heijmans, Audrey C H M Jongen, Mirjam Kaijser, Chantal A ten Kate, Joanna Luttikhold, Flores M Metz, Laura van Zeggeren, PASS-Flash Mob Collaborator Group, Antonia S Becker, Isabel Berger, Annelotte Beutler, Lok Sam Samantha Cheng, Manon Bindels, Marco Dam, Thomas L A Dirven, Raphael M J Fischer, Marleen Goddrie, Manuel A Gonçalves Garcia, Tanneke Herklots, Jens Homan, Ellaha Kakar, Elize W Lockhorst, Joost Nonner, Nuray Onayli-Altin, Arno Oomen, Esther van de Poll, Niels Schep, Thomas Schok, D J A Sonneveld, J M E Stam, Joline Stolk, Tamara Remijn-Rentmeester, Natali S Talukder, Sarah Vandenhaute, Emy van der Valk Bouman, Jorrit G Verhoeven, Jacqueline E M Vernooij, Marieke A Vlek, Maud Voesten, José H Volders, Koen J Vree Egberts, Patrick W H E Vriens, Selina J Wijbenga, Wilhelmina A M van Wijngaarden, Helma Zanders, Johannes Jeekel, Markus Klimek

  • July 17, 2025

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