Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39497325›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of pain (London, England)2025

Pain-related impairment in daily activities after lung cancer surgery: A 1-year prospective cohort study.

Allan V Danielsen, Jan J Andreasen, Birthe Dinesen, John Hansen, Kristian K Petersen, Kirsten S Duch, Carsten Simonsen, Lars Arendt-Nielsen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of pain (London, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Allan V DanielsenDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3025-7873
Jan J AndreasenDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Birthe DinesenLaboratory of Welfare Technologies-Digital Health and Rehabilitation, ExerciseTech, Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
John HansenCardioTech Research Group, Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Kristian K PetersenCenter Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Kirsten S DuchResearch Data and Biostatistics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Carsten SimonsenDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Lars Arendt-NielsenCenter Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPersistent postsurgical pain (PPSP) following thoracic surgery affects 40%-60% of patients undergoing lung resection due to malignancies. Postoperative pain-related symptoms are common, leading to limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and deterioration in physical function, which significantly impacts quality of life. Pain-related limitations are of interest, as postsurgical pain may present as a target for intervention to improve postoperative rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PPSP and ADL limitations during the first 12 postoperative months after surgery for lung cancer.

methodsA total of 124 patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer were followed for 12 months. Every 2 months, participants reported ADL limitations attributed to PPSP. Cumulative pain impairment scores were calculated from reported limitations in 14 daily activities, and recovery trajectory patterns were analysed.

resultsDaily activities most affected by PPSP were carrying bags, arm elevation, climbing stairs, cleaning floors and coughing, with >50% reporting limitations across all assessment times. Reported pain intensities were generally mild (NRS≤3), but still associated with significant impairment. Some recovery was observed in patients reporting pain at rest, but PPSP was consistently associated with higher cumulative pain impairment scores at all assessments during the 12-month follow-up period.

conclusionsFindings indicate that persistent postsurgical pain, even of mild intensity, is associated with significant limitations in daily activities up to 12 months post-surgery. Some improvement in pain-related impairment was observed, although limitations remained significantly higher in patients reporting persistent postsurgical pain, as compared to pain-free patients. SIGNIFICANCE: Surgery remains a cornerstone in the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. Despite advances in minimally invasive techniques and rehabilitation, persisting postsurgical pain and pain-related limitations in daily activities may endure. This study investigated specifically the pain-related limitations in activities of daily living and described recovery trajectories during the first 12 postoperative months. Patients with persistent postsurgical pain experienced multiple limitations compared to pain-free patients. Although partial recovery was observed, impairments remained significant for up to 12 months after surgery.

Indexed as

Activities of Daily LivingLung NeoplasmsPostoperative PainAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementProspective StudiesQuality of Life

Identifiers

PMID39497325
PMCPMC11755712

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.