title: Healthcare costs associated with elderly chronic pain patients in primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to estimate the total healthcare costs associated with elderly chronic pain (CP) patients, define cost-related factors in this population, and examine cost evolution over two years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an ancillary study from the CP S.AGE subcohort, including non-institutionalized patients aged over 65 suffering from CP. 1190, 1108, 1042, and 950 patients were reviewed with available healthcare data at follow-up visits at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. Healthcare components included medical and paramedical visits, medication prescription, and hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total cost in the first semester was estimated at <euro>2548 ± <euro>8885 per patient. Hospitalization represented the largest cost component (50%) followed by paramedical care (24%), medications (21%), and medical visits (5%). Significant cost-associated factors were comorbidity (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.35-1.64), dependency in daily activities (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.39-2.47), probable depression (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.09-2.69), permanent pain (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.18-1.86), neuropathic pain (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.38-2.73), living alone (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16-1.82), chronic back pain (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.71), and vertebral fracture/compression (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.08-2.01). Healthcare costs increased significantly by 48% (p < 0.0001) during follow-up namely due to hospitalizations. Elevated costs were associated with a higher risk of future hospitalization (OR 1.95, CI 95% 1.33-2.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare costs increased rapidly over time, largely due to hospitalization. Prevention strategies to limit hospitalizations in elderly appear to be the most useful in order to achieve cost savings in the future.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department, Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, Paris-Sud University, AP-HP, Bicêtre Hospital, 63, rue Gabriel Péri, 94276, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre cedex, France, didafarma@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazkani
authors.forename: Tiba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delespierre
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bauduceau
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasquier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertin
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berrut
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corruble
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doucet
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Falissard
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forette
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hanon
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benattar-Zibi
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piedvache
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Becquemont
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics