To explore the incidence and influencing factors of subacute and chronic pain in patients returning to the ICU after surgery, provide diagnostic and therapeutic insights for the evaluation and management of such patients, and improve the prognosis of this population.

Patients who underwent surgical treatment and returned to the ICU from November 29, 2021 to December 31, 2021 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were prospectively recruited. Subacute and chronic pain incidence and characteristics were assessed by telephone at 1 and 3 months after surgery and the influencing factors were further explored.

A total of 117 patients were enrolled, with an average age of 60.9±16.0 years. The incidence of subacute postoperative pain in patients returning to the ICU after surgery was 45.7%(53/116), and the incidence of chronic postoperative pain in patients returning to the ICU after surgery was 32.7%(36/110). The mean NRS for moderate to severe subacute pain and chronic pain after surgery were(4.9±1.2) and (5.2±1.1), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that coronary artery disease (OR=5.263, 95% CI: 1.436-19.292)was risk factor for chronic postoperative pain in patients returning to the ICU after surgery.

Patients returning to the ICU after surgery have a high incidence of postoperative subacute and chronic pain. Coronary artery disease was the risk factor for chronic pain.Perioperative multimodal pain management can be used to improve the pain experience of patients during ICU hospitalization and the short-term and long-term prognosis of patients.