Assessment of In-Hospital Pain Control After Childbirth and Its Correlation With Anxiety in the Postpartum Period [A150]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: 

The relationship between pain and anxiety in medical and surgical contexts is established; less is known about this relationship in obstetric populations. This study evaluated whether there is an association between postpartum pain and anxiety.

METHODS: 

In this institutional review board‒approved survey-based prospective cohort study, the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and American Pain Society-Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ) were completed the day of postpartum discharge. The association between moderate-to-severe anxiety and measures of pain control were assessed.

RESULTS: 

A total of 64 subjects completed discharge surveys. Parturients with moderate-to-severe scores (≥10) on the GAD-7 also had more maximum pain scores (0–10 scale) in the severe range (≥7) in the first (P=.049) and second (P=.010) 24-hour periods after delivery and were more likely to have spent a higher percentage of their time in severe pain within these time frames (P=0.007 and P=0.010, respectively). Similar relationships were observed when classifying anxiety as no anxiety (GAD-7 score <5), mild anxiety (GAD-7 score 5–9), moderate anxiety (GAD-7 score 10–14), and severe anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥15). Parturients with preexisting anxiety did not have higher rates of perceived inadequate pain control. Parturients whose infants had health concerns did not have higher rates of anxiety.

CONCLUSION: 

Postpartum pain levels were associated with higher levels of anxiety in the immediate postpartum period. Consideration of the relationship between pain control and anxiety may help optimize patients’ postpartum experience.