The Cost of Chronic Pain: An Analysis of a Regional Pain Management Service in Ireland

Abstract

Objective. The objective of the study was to collect data on the direct and indirect economic cost of chronic pain among patients attending a pain management clinic in Ireland.Setting. A tertiary pain management clinic serving a mixed urban and rural area in the West of Ireland.Design. Data were collected from 100 patients using the Client Services Receipt Inventory and focused on direct and indirect costs of chronic pain.Methods. Patients were questioned about health service utilization, payment methods, and relevant sociodemographics. Unit costs were multiplied by resource use data to obtain full costs. Cost drivers were then estimated.Results. Our study showed a cost per patient of US$24,043 over a 12-month period. Over half of this was attributable to wage replacement costs and lost productivity in those unable to work because of pain. Hospital stays and outpatient hospital services were the main drivers for health care utilization costs, together accounting for 63% of the direct medical costs per study participant attending the pain clinic.Conclusion. The cost of chronic pain among intensive service users is significant, and when extrapolated to a population level, these costs represent a very substantial economic burden.

Research design considerations for chronic pain prevention clinical trials

“…Moreover, it is a costly public health problem, contributing to high health care costs and lost productivity [11,17,20,56,100]. Although certain risk factors can identify individuals who are most likely to develop chronic pain, very few interventions to prevent chronic pain have been identified, adopted for use in clinical practice, or approved by regulatory agencies.…”

Frequency and characteristics of healthcare visits associated with chronic pain: results from a population-based Canadian study

“…[9][10][11] Nevertheless, other characteristics of individuals with chronic pain have been identified as potential contributors to increased visits and resulting medical costs. These characteristics include sociodemographic status, 9 insurance, 12 and comorbid conditions, 13 including depression 7,9 and other mental illnesses, 7,13 chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, 8 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. 13 Thus, although there is a disparity in healthcare visits and costs between individuals with and without chronic pain, multiple health and sociodemographic variables may explain these differences.…”

Comparing the clinical-effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention with a waiting list control among adults with chronic pain: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…For many people, the presence of chronic pain has adverse effects on their daily functioning, employment, relationships and emotional functioning 1 2. Considering its associated direct and indirect expenditures, chronic pain is also a costly social phenomenon 1 2 4. A recent estimate of the cost of chronic pain in Ireland was €5.34 million, or 2.86% of the gross domestic product per year 5…”

“…The significant cost of chronic pain internationally1 and in Ireland4 5 provides a clear rationale for the current study to focus on the economic evaluation of an internet-delivered ACT intervention. A thorough understanding of the economic cost of chronic pain is crucial to inform decision-making regarding health service resource allocation, especially for high-intensity service users 4.…”

“…A thorough understanding of the economic cost of chronic pain is crucial to inform decision-making regarding health service resource allocation, especially for high-intensity service users 4. This aspect of the study will be conducted with a view to giving more affordable alternative options to the current chronic pain management services in Ireland.…”