The Not-So-Hidden Cost of Back Pain

An abstract from the article:

The cost of medically treating back pain is not new to the health care industry. This cost may be new to individuals dealing with the ongoing costs to feel better. The research findings are well documented, and your clinical experiences undoubtedly verify it: Back pain affects nearly everyone. An estimated 80 percent of adults experience one or more episodes of back pain in their lifetime, and the one-year prevalence rate is approximately 15%-20% with some estimates as high as 40%. However some “experts” ironically, those outside the chiropractic profession, have attempted to describe back pain as harmless, self-limiting condition that requires only rest and time for resolution, despite the evidence to the contrary.
A study published in the January 1, 2004 issue of Spine “Estimates and Patterns of Direct health Care Expenditures Among Individuals With Back Pain in the United States” analyzed data from the 1998 medical Expenditures Panel Survey, (MEPS), a national survey on health care utilization and expenditures. Researchers utilize the data from the MEPS for two specific purposes: to estimate U.S. health care expenditures for back pain in 1998 and to describe health care expenditures patterns among individuals with back pain during that time period. The results of the study are as followed: Estimated total health care expenditures for back pain sufferers were a staggering $90.7 billion in 1998. In-patient care accounted for $27.9 billion in total expenditures while out-patient/office-based visits accounted for $23.6 billion. Prescription drugs account for more than 15% of the total health care expenditures ($14.1 billion) incurred by back pain sufferers. This service has increased more than any other service expenditure. The average health care costs incurred by individuals with back pain were approximately 60% higher than without back pain. The 25% most expensive individuals accounted for >75% of the service expenditures. If these data are not troublesome enough, the authors note that their estimates maybe understated, as they did not include cost associated with nursing home care, which accounted for approximately 20% of total health care cost for back pain in previous studies.
The bottom line is health care costs attributable to back pain in 1998 were “substantial,” and demonstrate “wide variation among back pain individuals with different clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics.” One can only assume that in 2004, these figures are notably higher, both in terms of the number of people suffering from back pain and the associated health care cost. For doctors of chiropractic, this study reinforces what has been said in the past. Back pain affects a significant number of the population, and when not treated appropriately it can account for substantial health care cost. In terms of prescription and hospital visits.

Crownfield, Peter; Dynamic Chiropractic; Feb. 12, 2004, Vol. 22, Number 4, cover/pg 49