Use of healthcare resources in patients with low back pain and comorbid depression or anxiety

Back pain is one of the most prevalent and debilitating musculoskeletal conditions1 and is the single leading cause of disability globally 2. Back pain is the third most common reason patients visit a doctor 3 and the sixth most common emergency department (ED) complaint found in recent studies 4. It is one of the musculoskeletal conditions associated with the greatest economic burden, accounting for approximately $86 billion in health care spending annually5. Based on the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Survey, patients diagnosed with chronic low back pain were more likely to report overnight hospitalization and more clinician visits compared to those without chronic LBP 6.
Source: The Spine Journal - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Tags: Clinical Study Source Type: research