Serious illness exacerbates post-surgical pain and caregiving needs.

The analysis of 1,896 older adults who underwent major elective surgeries revealed that 60% had serious illness. Notably, those with serious illness experienced greater baseline levels of pain (43% vs. 38%), depression (22% vs. 13%), and required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) compared to their healthier counterparts. Post-surgery, serious illness was significantly associated with increased pain, depression, and a doubling of informal caregiving needs, highlighting a critical area for palliative care intervention.