The Role of pain catastrophizing in the prediction of acute procedure related pain

Background: Aim of this study was to assess preoperative pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) scores and its predictive value regarding acute access-site pain after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Patients who received PCI via radial artery enrolled in a prospective observational study. Patients filled out PCS questionnaire prior to procedure. Pain intensity was assessed using numeric rating scale during PCI and 2 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 1 week and 1 month after PCI. Results: Median PCS score was 15 (8.0-22.0), female score (18.0 (10.0-29.5)) was higher than male (14.0 (6.5-20.0) (P = 0.030). Magnification scores were higher among females P = 0.018). Patients aged 75 and older had highest PCS scores (20.0) and rumination scores (P = 0.04 and P = 0.006 respectively). Female pain scores during procedure (2.5 (0.0-5.0) and 2 hours after procedure (4.0 (2.0-5.0) were higher than male (P = 0.024 and P = 0.013 respectively). Significant correlation was found between gender and pain during PCI (r = 0.219, P = 0.022), 2 hours after PCI (r=0.233, P = 0.015). We didn’t find any correlation or predictive value of PCS for acute pain. Female sex predicted pain 1 month after PCI ((OR = 3.143 95% CI (1.063-9.296), P = 0.038). Conclusion: PCS had no significant associations with pain after PCI. Females were more likely to report higher PCS and pain scores than males. Patients aged 75 and over reported higher PCS scores. Further research is needed to evaluate the importance of psychological factors regarding acute postprocedural pain.