title: Costs of pain in rheumatology.
abstract: Chronic pain has been identified as an important issue related to various rheumatic diseases. At the time of a major government spending review, it is appropriate to discuss the pain characterising rheumatic diseases and its related costs. It is clearly essential for healthcare authorities to rationalise their policies on the basis of the increasing expectations of the users of healthcare services while simultaneously balancing their books. There are few published studies concerning the costs of pain of any kind, and the same is true of the costs of the chronic pain associated with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatologist, P.O. S.S. Annunziata, Taranto. amars@tin.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marsico
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atzeni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piroddi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazzola
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stisi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarzi-Puttini
mesh_terms: D059787:Acute Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D016527:Drug Costs; D005060:Europe; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006291:Health Policy; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics; D011306:Prescription Fees; D011788:Quality of Life; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents