The economic burden of low back pain in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness analysis from the healthcare provider's perspective.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Low back pain (LBP) is a multifactorial and the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder, whose economic burden is of global concern. Evidence suggests that the burden of LBP in increasing and will continue rising with the greatest burden occurring in low-and-middle-income-countries (LMICs). This study sought to determine the economic burden of LBP in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from the providers perspective.

Methods

We used a retrospective prevalence-based cost-of-illness methodology to estimate the direct medical cost of LBP. Direct medical costs constituted costs associated with healthcare utilisation in inpatient care, outpatient care, investigations, consultations, and cost of auxiliary devices. We used diagnostic-specific data obtained from hospital clinical

SUBMITTER: Kahere M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9560048 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature