Initial treatment approaches and healthcare utilization among veterans with low back pain: a propensity score analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioid prescriptions for Veterans with low back pain (LBP) persist despite the availability of PT, a lower medical risk treatment option. Patterns of treatment and subsequent healthcare utilization for Veterans with LBP are unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of physical therapy (PT) and opioids and outcomes of spinal surgery and chronic opioid use for Veterans with incident LBP.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study identifying Veterans with a new diagnosis of LBP using ICD codes from the Veterans Administration national database from 2012 to 2017. Veterans were classified into three treatment groups based on the first treatment received within 30 days of incident LBP: receipt of PT, opioids, or neither PT nor opioids. O

SUBMITTER: Schmidt C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10029316 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature