Costs of Shoulder Pain in Primary Care
Author Information
Author(s): Ton Kuijpers, Maurits W van Tulder, Geert JMG van der Heijden, Lex M Bouter, Daniëlle AWM van der Windt
Primary Institution: VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hypothesis
What are the costs associated with shoulder pain during the 6 months after first consultation in general practice?
Conclusion
The total costs in the 6 months after first consultation for shoulder pain in primary care are not alarmingly high, mostly generated by a small part of the population.
Supporting Evidence
- 84% of patients completed all cost diaries.
- Mean total costs per patient were €689 over 6 months.
- 47% of total costs were due to indirect costs from sick leave.
- 12% of the population generated 74% of the total costs.
- Patients with persistent symptoms had significantly higher costs.
Takeaway
Shoulder pain can be expensive, but most people don't spend a lot on it; a few people with severe pain end up costing a lot more.
Methodology
A prospective cohort study with 587 patients followed for 6 months, collecting cost data through diaries.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of patients with severe conditions and reliance on self-reported data.
Limitations
The study may not generalize to patients with more severe conditions like fractures or previous surgeries.
Participant Demographics
Patients were older than 18 years, with a mean age of 52 years, and included both genders.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.10
Statistical Significance
p<0.10
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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