The Influence of Race, Ethnicity and Genetic Variants on Postoperative Pain Intensity: An Integrative Literature Review.
Mallory Perry, Kyle Baumbauer, Erin E Young and 3 others
PMID 31080143WHAT IT FOUND
Across the included studies, race and ethnicity were not consistent predictors of postoperative pain.
Some found higher pain in African American and Hispanic patients, others no difference. COMT and OPRM1 variants were linked to pain and opioid use, but evidence was inconclusive.
Key findings
01Some included studies reported higher postoperative pain in African American and Hispanic patients than in non-Hispanic white patients, but other studies found no difference.
02Variants in COMT and OPRM1 were associated with postoperative pain intensity in some studies, but not all.
03In one included study, African American children received the same intraoperative morphine dose but had more recovery room pain and higher postoperative opioid requirements than non-Hispanic white children.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 12 publications met the inclusion criteria, and few analysed postoperative pain by race or ethnicity. The included studies were inconsistent: some found higher pain in African American and Hispanic patients, while others found no difference or higher pain in non-Hispanic white patients. Genetic findings came from specific populations and surgeries, and the review says replication is needed before they can guide care. Race and ethnicity were self-reported and defined differently across studies, so the findings may not apply to all groups. The review did not test whether race, ethnicity, or genetics caused differences in pain.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that race, ethnicity, or genetic variants reliably predict postoperative pain. The included studies were inconsistent, and the review says replication is needed before these findings can guide care.