title: Musculoskeletal disorder costs and medical claim filing in the US retail trade sector.
abstract: The average costs of Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) and odds ratios for filing medical claims related to MSD were examined. The medical claims were identified by ICD 9 codes for four US Census regions within retail trade. Large private firms' medical claims data from Thomson Reuters Inc. MarketScan databases for the years 2003 through 2006 were used. Average costs were highest for claims related to lumbar region (ICD 9 Code: 724.02) and number of claims were largest for low back syndrome (ICD 9 Code: 724.2). Whereas the odds of filing an MSD claim did not vary greatly over time, average costs declined over time. The odds of filing claims rose with age and were higher for females and southerners than men and non-southerners. Total estimated national medical costs for MSDs within retail trade were $389 million (2007 USD).
authors.affiliation: Risk Evaluation Branch, Education and Information Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA.
authors.forename: Anasua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leigh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000191:economics*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult