Association between socioeconomic status and treatment in patients with low back or neck pain: a population-based cross-sectional study in South Korea

Abstract

IntroductionSocioeconomic status affects the treatment of patients with low back pain and/or neck pain. We examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (occupation and household income level) and treatments such as chronic opioid use and interventional procedures among these patients.MethodsData from the National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea were used in this population-based cross-sectional study. Approximately 2.5% of adult patients diagnosed with low back pain and/or neck pain between 2010 and 2019 were selected using a stratified random sampling technique and included in the analysis.ResultsWe analyzed the data of 5,861,007 patients with low back pain and/or neck pain in total. Among them, 4.9% were chronic opioid users and 17.7% underwent interventional procedures. Healthcare workers and unemployed individuals had 18% lower and 6% higher likelihood of chronic opioid use compared with office workers, respectively. Those with a very low household income had 18% higher likelihood of chronic opioid use than those with a poor household income. Other workers and unemployed individuals had 4% and 8% higher likelihood of undergoing interventional procedures than office workers, respectively. Healthcare workers had 5% lower likelihood of undergoing interventional procedures than office workers. Patients with middle, high, and very poor household incomes had a higher likelihood of undergoing interventional procedures, while those in the very high household income group had a lower likelihood of undergoing interventional procedures than those with poor household incomes.ConclusionsSocioeconomic status factors are associated with treatment in patients with low back pain and/or neck pain.

The epidemiology of neck and low back pain in Iran: a national and sub-national analysis from 1990 to 2019

“…The higher occurrence of LBP in certain groups can be attributed to factors such as heightened pain sensitivity, less healthcare access, and a lack of knowledge of how to seek proper help in time 47 . Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting a potential correlation between SES and the medical care received by those suffering from LBP or NP 48 . SES also plays a role in the reporting of musculoskeletal pain 49 .…”