The societal costs of chronic pain and its determinants: The case of Austria.
Absenteeism
Adult
Aged
Austria
Chronic Pain
/ economics
Cost of Illness
Efficiency
/ physiology
Europe
Female
Health Care Costs
/ statistics & numerical data
Health Expenditures
/ statistics & numerical data
Health Resources
/ statistics & numerical data
Humans
Insurance, Health
/ economics
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Care
/ economics
Young Adult
Journal
PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
Titre abrégé: PLoS One
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101285081
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2019
2019
Historique:
received:
24
10
2017
accepted:
04
03
2019
entrez:
21
3
2019
pubmed:
21
3
2019
medline:
18
12
2019
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Chronic pain is among the most burdensome conditions. Its prevalence ranges between 12% and 30% in Europe, with an estimated 21% among Austrian adults. The economic impact of chronic pain from a societal perspective, however, has not been sufficiently researched. This study aims to provide an estimate of the societal costs for working-age adults with chronic pain in Austria. It explores the impact of sex, number of pain sites, self-reported pain severity, health literacy and private health insurance on costs associated with chronic pain. A bottom-up cost-of-illness study was conducted based on data collected from 54 adult patients with chronic pain at three Viennese hospital outpatient departments. Information on healthcare costs including out-of-pocket expenses and productivity losses due to absenteeism and informal care were collected over 12 months. Resource use estimates were combined with unit costs and mean costs per patient were calculated in € for year 2016. Mean annual societal costs were estimated at EUR 10191. Direct medical costs were EUR 5725 including EUR 1799 out-of-pocket expenses (mainly pain relieving activities and private therapy). Productivity losses including informal care amounted to EUR 4466. Total costs for women and patients with three or more pain sites were significantly higher. No association with health literacy was found but there was a tendency towards higher out-of-pocket expenses for patients with complementary private health insurance. This study is the first to provide a comprehensive assessment of the individual and societal burden of chronic pain in Austria. It highlights that chronic pain is associated with substantial direct medical costs and productivity losses. Patient costs may show systematic differences by health insurance status, implying a need for future research in this area.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Chronic pain is among the most burdensome conditions. Its prevalence ranges between 12% and 30% in Europe, with an estimated 21% among Austrian adults. The economic impact of chronic pain from a societal perspective, however, has not been sufficiently researched. This study aims to provide an estimate of the societal costs for working-age adults with chronic pain in Austria. It explores the impact of sex, number of pain sites, self-reported pain severity, health literacy and private health insurance on costs associated with chronic pain.
METHODS
A bottom-up cost-of-illness study was conducted based on data collected from 54 adult patients with chronic pain at three Viennese hospital outpatient departments. Information on healthcare costs including out-of-pocket expenses and productivity losses due to absenteeism and informal care were collected over 12 months. Resource use estimates were combined with unit costs and mean costs per patient were calculated in € for year 2016.
RESULTS
Mean annual societal costs were estimated at EUR 10191. Direct medical costs were EUR 5725 including EUR 1799 out-of-pocket expenses (mainly pain relieving activities and private therapy). Productivity losses including informal care amounted to EUR 4466. Total costs for women and patients with three or more pain sites were significantly higher. No association with health literacy was found but there was a tendency towards higher out-of-pocket expenses for patients with complementary private health insurance.
CONCLUSION
This study is the first to provide a comprehensive assessment of the individual and societal burden of chronic pain in Austria. It highlights that chronic pain is associated with substantial direct medical costs and productivity losses. Patient costs may show systematic differences by health insurance status, implying a need for future research in this area.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30893370
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213889
pii: PONE-D-17-37075
pmc: PMC6426226
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e0213889Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Références
Health Syst Transit. 2018 Aug;20(3):1-254
pubmed: 30277215
PLoS One. 2017 Aug 14;12(8):e0183116
pubmed: 28806728
Eur J Pain. 2012 Feb;16(2):289-99
pubmed: 22323381
Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2018 Jan;130(1-2):4-13
pubmed: 28639082
Health Policy. 2006 Jun;77(1):51-63
pubmed: 16139925
Int J Equity Health. 2015 Oct 14;14:94
pubmed: 26463468
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011 Jul 15;12:161
pubmed: 21756363
Schmerz. 2014 Oct;28(5):483-92
pubmed: 25245594
Schmerz. 2010 Sep;24(5):468-73
pubmed: 20811752
Pain Manag. 2015;5(2):61-4
pubmed: 25806898
Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2006 Oct;6(5):591-601
pubmed: 20528505
Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2018 Jan;130(1-2):14-22
pubmed: 28634778
Psychol Med. 2016 Jan;46(2):425-36
pubmed: 26467609
Eur J Pain. 2006 May;10(4):287-333
pubmed: 16095934
Wien Med Wochenschr. 2012 Mar;162(5-6):92-8
pubmed: 22488033
JAMA. 2003 Nov 12;290(18):2443-54
pubmed: 14612481
BMC Public Health. 2013 Dec 05;13:1138
pubmed: 24308610
Fam Med. 2004 Sep;36(8):588-94
pubmed: 15343421
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005 Aug 1;30(15):1777-85
pubmed: 16094281
Health Care Manag Sci. 2014 Dec;17(4):331-47
pubmed: 24338279
Eur J Public Health. 2017 Feb 1;27(1):20-25
pubmed: 28177476
J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2012 Dec;26(4):310-25
pubmed: 23216170
Eur J Pain. 2009 Mar;13(3):280-6
pubmed: 18524652
Health Technol Assess. 2004 Dec;8(49):iii-iv, 1-192
pubmed: 15544708
Eur J Health Econ. 2009 Feb;10(1):5-13
pubmed: 18256865
Eur J Public Health. 2015 Dec;25(6):1053-8
pubmed: 25843827
BMC Public Health. 2011 Oct 06;11:770
pubmed: 21978149
Pharmacoeconomics. 2011 Aug;29(8):653-71
pubmed: 21604822
Pain Med. 2013 Oct;14(10):1518-28
pubmed: 23944994
Eur J Public Health. 2015 Aug;25(4):597-603
pubmed: 25395395
Wien Med Wochenschr. 2006 Dec;156(23-24):628-32
pubmed: 17211768
Health Promot Int. 2006 Dec;21(4):340-5
pubmed: 16963461
Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2013 May;125(9-10):261-9
pubmed: 23579882
Eur J Health Econ. 2016 Jan;17(1):87-98
pubmed: 25416319
Eur J Public Health. 2013 Dec;23(6):933-9
pubmed: 23377140
J Health Commun. 2014;19 Suppl 2:302-33
pubmed: 25315600
J Pain. 2006 Nov;7(11):779-93
pubmed: 17074616
Value Health. 2012 Sep-Oct;15(6):975-81
pubmed: 22999150
J Pain. 2012 Aug;13(8):715-24
pubmed: 22607834
Schmerz. 2015 Dec;29(6):616-24
pubmed: 26341376
J Pain. 2012 Feb;13(2):139-45
pubmed: 22300900
Int J Public Health. 2009;54(5):313-24
pubmed: 19644651
J Pain Symptom Manage. 2002 May;23(5):433-41
pubmed: 12007761
Health Syst Transit. 2013;15(7):1-292
pubmed: 24334772
J Clin Nurs. 2009 Aug;18(16):2337-43
pubmed: 19583664