Low back pain in older adults: are we utilizing healthcare resources wisely?
OBJECTIVE
1) To examine recent change in prevalence and Medicare-associated charges for non-invasive/minimally invasive evaluation and treatment of nonspecific low back pain (LBP); and 2) to examine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilization appropriateness in older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP).


METHODS
Two cross-sectional surveys of 1) national (1991-2002) and Pennsylvania (2000-2002) Medicare data; and 2) patients aged >or= 65 years with CLBP.


METHODS
Outpatient data.


METHODS
Patients aged >or= 65 years with LBP.


METHODS
Study 1: Outpatient national and Pennsylvania Part A Medicare data were examined for number of patients and charges for all patients, and for those with nonspecific LBP. Total number of visits and charges for imaging studies, physical therapy (PT), and spinal injections was also examined for Pennsylvania. Study 2: 111 older adults with CLBP were interviewed regarding presence of red flags necessitating imaging and history of having a lumbar MRI, neurogenic claudication (NC), and back surgery.


RESULTS
Study 1: Between 1991 and 2002, there was a 42.5% increase in total Medicare patients, 131.7% increase in LBP patients, 310% increase in total charges, and 387.2% increase in LBP charges. In Pennsylvania (2000-2002), there was a 5.5% increase in LBP patients and 33.2% increase in charges (0.2% for PT, 59.4% for injections, 41.9% for MRI/CT, and 19.3% for X rays). Study 2: None of the 111 participants had red flags and 61% had undergone MRIs (29% with NC, 24% with failed back surgery syndrome).


CONCLUSIONS
LBP documentation and diagnostic studies are increasing in Medicare beneficiaries, and evidence suggests that MRIs may often be ordered unnecessarily. Injection procedures appear to account for a significant proportion of LBP-associated costs. More studies are needed to examine the appropriateness with which imaging procedures and non-invasive/minimally invasive treatments are utilized, and their effect on patient outcomes.
Weiner
Debra K
DK
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. dweiner@pitt.edu
Kim
Young-Sin
YS
Bonino
Paula
P
Wang
Tracy
T
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends