Utilization of pain medications and its effect on quality of life, health care utilization and associated costs in individuals with chronic back pain.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Pain medications are widely prescribed to treat chronic back pain (CBP). However, the effect of using pain medications on individuals with CBP has received very little attention.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of pharmacological treatment in the population with CBP and assess its impact on quality of life, health care utilization and associated costs in USA.

Patients and methods

Retrospective, cross-sectional data obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), from 2011 to 2015, were utilized for this study. Pharmacological treatment for CBP was categorized into three mutually exclusive categories: 1) opioids only, 2) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) only, 3) opioids and NSAIDs (combination). The effect o

SUBMITTER: Desai R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6362928 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature