Positive Health Online

Abstract

MANIADAKIS and GRAY, Global Health Outcomes, Searle Division of Monsanto, PO Box 53, High Wycombe UK reports the results of a 'cost-of-illness ' study of the socio-economic costs of back pain in the UK .

Background

Methodology

Results

The direct health care cost of back pain in 1998 is estimated to be around £1,632 million . Approximately 35% of this cost relates to services provided in the private sector and thus is most likely paid for directly by patients and their families. With respect to the distribution of cost across different providers, 37% relates to care provided by physiotherapists and allied specialists, 31% is incurred in the hospital sector, 14% relates to primary care, 7% to medication, 6% to community care and 5% to radiology and imaging used for investigation purposes. However the direct cost of back pain is insignificant compared to the cost of informal care and the production losses related to it, which total £10,668 million. Overall, back pain is one of the most costly conditions for which an economic analysis has been carried out in the UK; this is in line with findings from other countries.

Conclusion

Further research is needed to establish the cost-effectiveness of alternative back pain treatments, so as to minimize cost and maximize the health benefit from resources used for this condition.

References

Maniadakis N and Gray A. The economic burden of back pain in the UK. Pain 84(1): 95-103. Jan 2000.