Optimism measured pre-operatively is associated with reduced pain intensity and physical symptom reporting after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Abstract

Objective: Optimism is thought to be associated with long-term favourable outcomes for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Our objective was to examine the association between optimism and post-operative pain and physical symptoms in CABG patients. Methods: We assessed optimism pre-operatively in 197 adults undergoing CABG surgery, and then followed them up 6-8. weeks after the procedure to measure affective pain, pain intensity, and physical symptom reporting directly pertaining to CABG surgery. Results: Greater optimism measured pre-operatively was significantly associated with lower pain intensity (β. = -. 0.150, CI. = -. 0.196 to -. 0.004, p= .042) and fewer physical symptoms following surgery (β. = -. 0.287, CI. = -. 0.537 to -. 0.036, p= .025), but not with affective pain, after controlling for demographic, clinical and behavioural covariates, including negative affectivity. Conclusions: Optimism is a modest, yet significant, predictor of pain intensity and physical symptom reporting after CABG surgery. Having positive expectations may promote better recovery.