What are the costs of managing neck and low back pain in Brazil? Investigation of a ten-year period from the perspective of the Brazilian public health system.

INTRODUCTION: Considering the prospects of increased prevalence and disability due to neck and low back pain, it is relevant to investigate the care processes adopted, to assist future public policies and decision-making for a better allocation of resources. Objective: the aim of this study was to estimate the costs arising from inpatient and outpatient care of individuals with Neck Pain (NP) and Low Back Pain (LBP) in Brazil, between 2010 and 2019. METHODS: This is a cost-of-illness study from the perspective of the Brazilian public health system, based on health conditions with high prevalence (neck and low back pain). Data were presented descriptively using absolute and relative values. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2019, the health system spent more than $600 million (R$ 2.3 billion) to treat NP and LBP in adults, and LBP accounted for most of the expenses. Female had higher absolute expenses in inpatient care and in the outpatient system. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the costs with NP and LBP in Brazil were considerable. Female patients had higher outpatient costs and male patients had higher hospitalization costs. Healthcare expenses were concentrated for individuals between 34 and 63 years of age.

This study focused on understanding how much it cost to treat neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) in Brazil between 2010 and 2019, from the point of view of the public health system (i.e. Unified Health System ­ SUS). The idea was to find out how much money was spent and where. It turned out that the SUS spent, in total, more than US$600 million (R$2.3 billion) with LBP responsible for most of these expenses. Furthermore, we noted that women had higher outpatient care costs, while men had higher hospitalization costs. Those costs were more concentrated in people aged between 34 and 63 years.

The care pathway of individuals with spinal disorders in a Health Care Network in the Federal District, Brazil: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the care pathway is essential to identify how to effectively treat spinal disorders. However, there is no specific data on the pathway of these individuals in the Health Care Networks (HCN) in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathway of individuals with non-specific spinal disorders (NSD) in the HCN in the Federal District, Brazil, and verify the interventions adopted, and to test whether sociodemographic and clinical variables predict the number of imaging tests, prescribed medication, and the first HCN access. METHODS: Retrospective study that analysed electronic records of 327 individuals with NSD between 2012 and 2018. Generalized linear models estimated the association between sociodemographic and clinical data and number of drugs prescribed and imaging tests requested. Multinomial logistic regression estimated the association between clinical and demographic variables and setting of first access. RESULTS: The median age was 57 years, and 75.5% were women. Emergency Department (ED) was the most accessed setting (43.7%), and back pain was the most prevalent condition (84.5%). Most individuals underwent imaging tests (60%) and drug prescriptions (86%). Physical exercises were prescribed to 13%, and 55% were referred to physical therapy. Women were more likely to first access the ED. CONCLUSION: The ED was the most used setting by people with NSD. Few participants received exercise prescriptions and half were referred to physical therapists. Individuals who used outpatient clinics and primary care received less drug prescriptions, and women were more likely to first access the ED. Increasing age was associated with greater chance of first accessing Outpatient Clinics.

Direct healthcare cost of hospital admissions for chronic non-communicable diseases sensitive to primary care in the elderly. / Custo direto de internações hospitalares por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis sensíveis à atenção primária em idosos.

Aging has imposed changes in the epidemiological profile and an increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs). The aim was to estimate the direct cost related to hospital admissions of elderly people affected by CNCDs (hypertension, heart failure and diabetes mellitus) sensitive to primary care, in a medium-sized hospital, in the period 2015-2019. Secondly, we investigated whether clinical and demographic factors explain the costs and length of stay. The medical records of 165 elderly people were analyzed. We found a predominance of women with a mean age of 76.9 years. The most frequent cause of hospitalization was heart failure (62%), and the average length of stay was 9.5 days, and 16% of hospitalizations corresponded to rehospitalizations. Of these, 81% were caused by complications from the previous hospitalization. The estimated total cost was R$ 3 million. Male patients had a longer hospital stay compared to female patients. Hypertension and the total number of procedures were significant predictors of cost and length of stay. We found that in 5 years, the costs of hospital admissions for conditions sensitive to primary care in the elderly are considerable, indicating the relevance of investments in primary care.

O envelhecimento tem imposto mudanças epidemiológicas e aumento na prevalência de doenças crônicas não-transmissíveis (DCNT). O objetivo foi estimar o custo direto relacionado às internações hospitalares de idosos acometidos por DCNT (hipertensão arterial, insuficiência cardíaca e diabetes mellitus) sensíveis à atenção primária, em hospital de médio porte, no período de 2015-2019. Secundariamente, investigamos se fatores clínicos e demográficos explicam o custo e tempo de permanência. Foram analisados prontuários de 165 idosos. Verificamos predominância de mulheres com média de idade de 76,9 anos. A causa de internação mais frequente foi insuficiência cardíaca (62%) e o tempo médio de permanência foi de 9,5 dias, e 16% das internações corresponderam a idosos reinternados. Dessas, 81% foram causadas por complicações da internação anterior. O custo total estimado foi de R$ 3 milhões. Pacientes do sexo masculino ficaram mais tempo internados, comparado ao sexo feminino. Hipertensão e o total de exames realizados foram preditores significantes do custo e tempo de permanência. Verificamos que em 5 anos, os custos com internações hospitalares por condições sensíveis à atenção primária em idosos são consideráveis, indicando a relevância de investimentos na atenção primária.

Custo direto de internações hospitalares por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis sensíveis à atenção primária em idosos / Direct healthcare cost of hospital admissions for chronic non-communicable diseases sensitive to primary care in the elderly

Resumo O envelhecimento tem imposto mudanças epidemiológicas e aumento na prevalência de doenças crônicas não-transmissíveis (DCNT). O objetivo foi estimar o custo direto relacionado às internações hospitalares de idosos acometidos por DCNT (hipertensão arterial, insuficiência cardíaca e diabetes mellitus) sensíveis à atenção primária, em hospital de médio porte, no período de 2015-2019. Secundariamente, investigamos se fatores clínicos e demográficos explicam o custo e tempo de permanência. Foram analisados prontuários de 165 idosos. Verificamos predominância de mulheres com média de idade de 76,9 anos. A causa de internação mais frequente foi insuficiência cardíaca (62%) e o tempo médio de permanência foi de 9,5 dias, e 16% das internações corresponderam a idosos reinternados. Dessas, 81% foram causadas por complicações da internação anterior. O custo total estimado foi de R$ 3 milhões. Pacientes do sexo masculino ficaram mais tempo internados, comparado ao sexo feminino. Hipertensão e o total de exames realizados foram preditores significantes do custo e tempo de permanência. Verificamos que em 5 anos, os custos com internações hospitalares por condições sensíveis à atenção primária em idosos são consideráveis, indicando a relevância de investimentos na atenção primária.

Abstract Aging has imposed changes in the epidemiological profile and an increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs). The aim was to estimate the direct cost related to hospital admissions of elderly people affected by CNCDs (hypertension, heart failure and diabetes mellitus) sensitive to primary care, in a medium-sized hospital, in the period 2015-2019. Secondly, we investigated whether clinical and demographic factors explain the costs and length of stay. The medical records of 165 elderly people were analyzed. We found a predominance of women with a mean age of 76.9 years. The most frequent cause of hospitalization was heart failure (62%), and the average length of stay was 9.5 days, and 16% of hospitalizations corresponded to rehospitalizations. Of these, 81% were caused by complications from the previous hospitalization. The estimated total cost was R$ 3 million. Male patients had a longer hospital stay compared to female patients. Hypertension and the total number of procedures were significant predictors of cost and length of stay. We found that in 5 years, the costs of hospital admissions for conditions sensitive to primary care in the elderly are considerable, indicating the relevance of investments in primary care.