title: Self-reported musculoskeletal pain predicts long-term increase in general health care use: a population-based cohort study with 20-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Musculoskeletal pain and disability is a modern epidemic and a major reason for seeking health care. The aim of this study is to determine absolute and relative rates of care seeking over 20 years for adults reporting musculoskeletal complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interview data on musculoskeletal pain reported during the past two weeks from the Danish National Cohort Study were merged with data from the Danish National Health Insurance Registry and the National Patient Registry containing information on consultations in the Danish primary and secondary care sector. Absolute and relative rates for all seeking of care with general practitioners, physiotherapists, chiropractors, outpatient hospital contacts and hospital admissions are reported for persons reporting no musculoskeletal pain and for persons reporting pain in the neck, shoulder, wrist/hands, mid back, low back, hips, knees and ankles/feet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regardless of site, persons experiencing a musculoskeletal complaint had a statistically increased risk of consulting a general practitioner when compared with persons reporting no musculoskeletal complaint. For physiotherapists and chiropractors, only persons complaining of neck pain and back pain had an increased risk of seeking care. Regardless of pain site, except for shoulder pain, persons reporting musculoskeletal pain had a statistically significant increased risk of outpatient hospital consultations and hospital admissions. Few differences were found between pain sites in relation to any of the outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-report of musculoskeletal pain reported within the past two weeks predicts a statistically significant long-term increase in general use of health care services in both the primary and the secondary health care sector.
authors: University of Southern Denmark, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense M, Denmark Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense M, Denmark jhartvigsen@health.sdu.dk.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Hartvigsen
authors: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Davidsen
authors: University of Southern Denmark, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense M, Denmark.
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Søgaard
authors: University of Southern Denmark, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense M, Denmark.
authors: Ewa M
authors: EM
authors: Roos
authors: University of Southern Denmark, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense M, Denmark Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense M, Denmark.
authors: Lise
authors: L
authors: Hestbaek
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000628:therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D063127:Secondary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Back pain; epidemiology; health care; knee pain; musculoskeletal; neck pain; population studies; shoulder pain