Characteristics and health care costs in patients with a diagnostic imaging for low back pain in Switzerland.

ABSTRACT: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders worldwide and a frequent cause for health care utilization with a high economic burden. A large proportion of diagnostic imaging in patients with LBP is inappropriate and can cause more harm than good, which in turn can lead to higher health care costs. The aim of this study was to determine characteristics and health care costs for patients with a diagnostic imaging for LBP in Switzerland. Groupe Mutuel, one of the biggest health care insurance companies in Switzerland and covering approximately 12% of the population, provided data for this analysis. Patients were identified by diagnostic imaging for the lumbar spine in 2016 or 2017. The study period was 2015-2019, that is one year before and two years after the year

SUBMITTER: Di Gangi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9170616 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature