Original Article

Association Between Sleep Quality and Postcolonoscopy Pain

Volume 37 · Issue 8 Publish Date: April 30, 2026
Haci Bolat ORCID Tugba Tolu ORCID Haluk Tarık Kani ORCID
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Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology

Volume 37 · Issue 8

Pages: 839-848

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Published Online: April 30, 2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Haci Bolat ORCID
Department of General Surgery, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Faculty of Medicine, Niğde, Türkiye
Tugba Tolu ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye
Haluk Tarık Kani ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye; Marmara University Institute of Gastroenterology, İstanbul, Türkiye
Bolat, H., Tolu, T., & Kani, H. T. (2026). Association Between Sleep Quality and Postcolonoscopy Pain. Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, 37(8), 839–848. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2026.26044
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Abstract

Background/Aims: Postcolonoscopy pain remains a key determinant of patient satisfaction and willingness to undergo repeat procedures. Patient-related factors influencing postprocedural pain are not fully understood, and the role of sleep quality has not been systematically elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the association between sleep quality and postcolonoscopy abdominal pain in a real-world cohort.

Materials and Methods: This single-center, prospective observational cohort study included adults aged 18-80 years undergoing diagnostic or surveillance colonoscopy. All procedures were performed by a single experienced endoscopist under standardized conditions. Psychological and sleep-related parameters were assessed using validated instruments, including the Beck Depression Inventory, State– Trait Anxiety Inventory, Van Dream Anxiety Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Pain intensity was measured using a Visual Analog Scale at 0 minutes, 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours after the procedure. Associations between psychometric measures and pain scores were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation.

Results: A total of 103 patients were included (mean age, 54.7 ± 12.4 years; 45.6% female). Postcolonoscopy pain was most prominent 0 minutes after the procedure and decreased progressively over time. Poor sleep quality was significantly associated with higher pain intensity at 6 hours after colonoscopy (r = 0.239, P = .015). Anxiety and depressive symptom severity scores were not associated with pain intensity; however, a prior clinical diagnosis of depression was associated with higher postprocedural pain scores. Higher pain scores were also observed in patients with incomplete procedures, gastrointestinal symptoms, and postprocedural dissatisfaction (P < .05).

Conclusion: Sleep quality may represent an important patient-related factor influencing early postcolonoscopy pain perception. Consideration of sleep and psychosocial factors alongside routine clinical evaluation may help improve the understanding of postprocedural pain variability and enhance patient-centered endoscopy care.

Cite this article as: Bolat H, Tolu T, Kani HT. Association between sleep quality and postcolonoscopy pain. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2026;37(8):839-848.

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Article Info
Published In
Journal Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume / Issue Volume 37 · Issue 8
Pages 839-848
DOI 10.5152/tjg.2026.26044
History
Published Online April 30, 2026
License
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Affiliations
Haci Bolat ORCID
Department of General Surgery, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Faculty of Medicine, Niğde, Türkiye
Tugba Tolu ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye
Haluk Tarık Kani ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye; Marmara University Institute of Gastroenterology, İstanbul, Türkiye
Cite this Article
Bolat, H., Tolu, T., & Kani, H. T. (2026). Association Between Sleep Quality and Postcolonoscopy Pain. Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, 37(8), 839–848. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2026.26044
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