Abstract
Introduction
A minority of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) account for a majority of disability and costs. This subgroup has potentially most to gain from effective treatment. The Groningen Spine Cohort will provide a 10-year prospective insight into the burden of CLBP for patients referred to multispecialty tertiary spine care in the Netherlands. This study reports first baseline results.
Objective
To study the personal and societal impact of CLBP in patients visiting the UMCG tertiary spine center.
Patients
Adult patients with CLBP.
Methods
Patient-reported baseline questionnaire and health insurance costs one year prior to visiting the Spine Center. Primary outcomes: NIH minimal dataset Impact Stratification score (range 8–50), functioning (Pain Disability Index, PDI; 0–70), quality of life (EuroQol-5D, EQ5D; -0.33–1.00), work ability (single-item Work Ability Score, WAS; 0–10), work participation (absenteeism, disability), and health insurance costs. Descriptive statistics were applied.
Results
N=1503 patients (age m=46.3, sd=12.8 years, 57% female) were included. NIH Impact Stratification m=35.2±7.5; severe impact (≥35) for 58% of patients. PDI = 38.2±14.1; EQ5D = 0.44±0.30; WAS = 3.8±2.9. Absenteeism: 43% of workers. Permanent work disability: 17%. Health insurance costs: med= €2432, IQR €4739.
Discussion And Conclusions
In patients seeking multispecialty tertiary spine care, the personal and societal impact of CLBP is very high. Costs are substantially higher than what is already known about the burden of the average patient with CLBP.
Clinical Message
More effective personalized stepped and matched care is urgently needed to reduce the burden of CLBP in a subgroup of patients seeking multispecialty tertiary spine care.
No conflicts of interest
Sources of Funding: Funding from the University Medical Center Groningen
