title: The burden of chronic low back pain with and without a neuropathic component: a healthcare resource use and cost analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This research addresses the need for population-based studies on the burden of chronic low back pain (CLBP) by examining healthcare service use and costs for patients with and without neuropathic components in the US population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from PharMetrics IMS LifeLink™ US Claims Database (2006-2008). Patients (≥18 years) with 36 months continuous enrollment, ICD-9 code for low back pain, and claims in 3 out of 4 consecutive months in the 12-month prospective period were included and classified with CLBP. Patients were further classified with a neuropathic component (wNP) and without a neuropathic component (woNP) based on ICD-9 codes. Healthcare resources, physical therapy, prescription medication use, and associated costs were assessed for the period January 1-December 31, 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A number of patients (39,425) were identified with CLBP (90.4% wNP). Patients wNP included more women, were older and more likely to have clinically diagnosed depression, and made significantly greater use of any prescription medication at index event, opioids (particularly schedule II), and healthcare resources. Total direct costs of CLBP-related resource use were ∼US$96 million over a 12-month follow-up. CLBP wNP accounted for 96% of total costs and mean annual cost of care/patient was ∼160% higher than CLBP patients woNP (US$ 2577 vs US$ 1007, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was descriptive and was not designed to demonstrate causality between diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Resource use and costs for reasons other than LBP were not included. Patients with neuropathic pain are more likely to seek treatment; therefore CLBP patients with a non-neuropathic component may be under-represented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The disproportionately high share of interventional resource use in CLBP wNP suggests greater need for new treatment options that more comprehensively manage the range of pain symptoms and signaling mechanisms involved, to help improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
authors.affiliation: Janssen Global Services LLC , Raritan, NJ 08869 , USA. mmehra@its.jnj.com
authors.forename: Maneesha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehra
authors.forename: Kala
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicholl
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schadrack
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States