Evidence mapPaperPMID 41545043Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Study protocols for the GEPard project: systematic analysis of sex- and gender-specific differences in the efficacy of perioperative pain management - a two-pronged approach.

Stefan Floren, Daniel Segelcke, Philipp André Macháček, Jan Vollert, Heike Norda, Iben Rohde, Ian Gilron, Esther M Pogatzki-Zahn

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Stefan FlorenDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-5685-8165
Daniel SegelckeDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4405-2596
Philipp André MacháčekDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9553-9732
Jan VollertDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0733-5201
Heike NordaUVSD SchmerzLOS e.V, Neumünster, Germany.
Iben RohdePain Alliance Europe (PAE), Brussels, Belgium.
Ian GilronDepartment of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5293-8792
Esther M Pogatzki-ZahnDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany pogatzk@uni-muenster.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPostoperative pain is common, with approximately one-third of surgical patients experiencing severe acute pain and 10-20% developing chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). Evidence shows that female patients are at higher risk of pain after sex non-specific surgery, thus sex- or gender-specific differences in pain treatment efficacy with potential consequences for perioperative pain management are to be expected. Considering the clinical and societal burden of poorly managed postoperative pain, the GEPard project comprises two systematic reviews, GEPard 1: sex- and/or gender-specific differences in efficacy of perioperative pain management for certain (major) surgical procedures in adult patients; and GEPard 2: sex- and/or gender-specific differences in the dosing, efficacy and adverse effects of the most common systemic perioperative non-opioid- and co-analgesics across all sex non-specific surgical procedures in adult patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The reviews will be conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook. MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov and PsycINFO will be searched. We will include randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews/meta-analyses reporting outcomes disaggregated by sex and/or gender in adult surgical patients. For GEPard 1, this applies to selected major surgical procedures; for GEPard 2, to all non-sex-specific surgical procedures. Interventions include regional anaesthesia, systemic analgesics and psychological strategies for GEPard 1 and non-opioid- as well as co-analgesics for GEPard 2. Two reviewers will independently screen and extract the data. Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0 (RoB 2) and AMSTAR 2 tools will assess study quality. Random-effects or Bayesian meta-analyses will be performed where possible; otherwise, narrative synthesis will be applied. GRADE methodology will assess evidence certainty. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethical approval is required for these reviews. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, patient organisations and professional societies. Data will be shared via Zenodo or Open Science Framework (OSF), following FAIR principles. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: The systematic review protocols for both reviews have been registered in PROSPERO on 29 August 2025 (Registration-ID: CRD420251121393 (GEPard1), CRD420251121536 (GEPard2).

Indexed as

AnalgesicsPain ManagementPerioperative CarePostoperative PainAdultFemaleHumansMaleResearch DesignSex FactorsSystematic Reviews as TopicAnalgesicsChronic PainHealth EquityPAIN MANAGEMENTSURGERY

Identifiers

PMID41545043
PMCPMC12815122

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.