Hospitalization due to acute exacerbation of chronic pain: An intervention study in a university hospital

Conclusions Despite our attending physician-led intervention, the frequency, duration and very substantial costs of hospitalization of the cohort were not significantly reduced, suggesting that other strategies need to be identified to help these complex and vulnerable patients. Implications Frequent hospitalization with acute exacerbation of chronic pain is a largely hidden problem that has very substantial implications for patients, their carers and healthcare providers. Chronic pain services tend to focus on outpatient management. Breaking the cycle of frequent and recurrent hospitalization using multidisciplinary chronic pain management techniques has the potential to improve patients’ quality of life and reduce hospital costs. Nonetheless, the complexity of these patients’ chronic pain problems should not be underestimated and in some cases are very challenging to treat.
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Pain - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research