Cardiovascular reactivity to a postural challenge was associated with chronic pain severity, as systolic blood pressure decreased across sessions only in patients with low pain severity.
Observational (n=50)
Does cardiovascular reactivity to an orthostatic challenge correlate with chronic pain severity in patients with bodily injuries?
Cardiovascular reactivity to orthostatic challenge may serve as an objective biobehavioral marker for chronic pain severity and related emotional distress.
OBJECTIVE: Objective markers of chronic pain severity are needed when examining and treating patients with chronic pain whose suffering may be overstated or underestimated. This study tested a hypothesis that the strength of cardiovascular (CV) reactivity in response to a social evaluative threat and orthostatic challenge is a reliable index of severity of pain-related complaints. METHODS: Measurement of CV reactivity and response styles in 34 men and 16 women with chronic pain from different bodily injuries, were retrieved from a larger database of patients. Measurement of CV reactivity in response to a postural challenge was repeated twice (sessions 1 and 2) on the same day of a medical examination which includes a psychosocial evaluation . RESULTS: A decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from session 1 to session 2 was found in subjects with low pain severity scores, but not in those with high pain severity scores. High scores for pain catastrophizing/ magnification and pain-related emotional distress were independently associated respectively with a SBP increase at an early-point in time and a SBP decrease at a mid-point in time after standing up from lying down. Stronger heart rate reactivity responses to orthostatic challenge indicated greater protection against the presence of these chronic pain symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This biobehavioral protocol enables measurement of chronic pain suffering and protection in three dimensions: physical, emotional, and cognitive.
Davydov et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Chronic pain (n=50). Cardiovascular reactivity to postural challenge vs. Low versus high pain severity scores was evaluated on Change in systolic blood pressure and heart rate reactivity. Cardiovascular reactivity to a postural challenge was associated with chronic pain severity, as systolic blood pressure decreased across sessions only in patients with low pain severity.