Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.57140/mj.54.3.2

Chronic pain and psychological well-being in soldiers wounded during Russo-Ukrainian war: a retrospective study

Vasyl Horoshko ; Postgraduate department of surgery, anesthesiology and intensive medicine; Bogomolets national medical university, National military medical clinical center "Main military clinical hospital", Kyiv, Ukraine
Iurii Kuchyn ; Postgraduate department of surgery, anesthesiology and intensive medicine; Bogomolets national medical university, National military medical clinical center "Main military clinical hospital", Kyiv, Ukraine
Kateryna Bielka orcid.org/0000-0003-1185-6835 ; Postgraduate department of surgery, anesthesiology and intensive medicine; Bogomolets national medical university, National military medical clinical center "Main military clinical hospital", Kyiv, Ukraine
Damir Sapunar orcid.org/0000-0002-8352-4402 ; University of Split, School of medicine, Cplit, Croatia

Abstract

Background: Chronic pain is highly prevalent among Ukrainian soldiers with gunshot and
mine-explosive injuries. Our study examines the impact of acute stress reaction (ASR) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on chronic pain development and its effect on soldiers' quality
of life post-treatment.
Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from 1,166 wounded soldiers
diagnosed with PTSD following ASR. We assessed pain intensity, anxiety/depression, quality of
life, and PTSD presence at hospital discharge, one and three months later.
Results: We identified significant predictors of chronic pain in wounded soldiers, emphasizing
the role of psychological factors and the quality of life. High levels of anxiety and depression,
PTSD symptoms, and low quality of life scores were strongly associated with chronic pain, even
after adjusting for injury type and initial pain intensity. The presence of an ASR, high Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale scores (HADS), and low scores on the Chaban Quality of Life
Questionnaire (CQLS) were identified as predictors of chronic pain, with a notably high risk
(95.6%) for patients meeting these criteria. Our findings suggest a significant association between
the risk of chronic pain and ASR, with quality of life scores at discharge, one month, and three
months post-treatment, indicating a high predictive accuracy. Moreover, ineffective pain
treatment correlated with ineffective PTSD treatment.
Conclusion: Soldiers' diminished psychological well-being post-gunshot and mine-explosive
injuries significantly increase chronic pain risk. Addressing anxiety, depression, and PTSD
symptoms, alongside improving quality of life, could reduce the likelihood of chronic pain and
other negative health outcomes in soldiers with combat injuries.

Keywords

Ukraine; War-related injuries; chronic pain; acute stress reaction; posttraumatic stress disorder

Hrčak ID:

320579

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/320579

Publication date:

6.9.2024.

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