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Back and neck pain: Patterns in healthcare consultations

Jöud, Anna LU orcid (2013) In Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series 2013:122.
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders are very common and affects the individual by pain and functional impairment, and the society

through work disability and healthcare utilisation. To what extent is less studied. Routinely collected healthcare

registers is a potential resource for epidemiological studies of musculoskeletal disorders. Skåne region, as opposed to

nationally in Sweden, has healthcare registers, covering all care including primary care.

he overall aim of this thesis was to incorporate healthcare registers in the epidemiological research of consultation

prevalence, healthcare consultation and sick leave patterns in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

he thesis comprises four... (More)
Musculoskeletal disorders are very common and affects the individual by pain and functional impairment, and the society

through work disability and healthcare utilisation. To what extent is less studied. Routinely collected healthcare

registers is a potential resource for epidemiological studies of musculoskeletal disorders. Skåne region, as opposed to

nationally in Sweden, has healthcare registers, covering all care including primary care.

he overall aim of this thesis was to incorporate healthcare registers in the epidemiological research of consultation

prevalence, healthcare consultation and sick leave patterns in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

he thesis comprises four studies in which the Skåne Healthcare Register was linked with national registers on sick

leave, prescribed drugs, and socioeconomic status. Additionally, the thesis include a comparative study between data

from the Skåne Healthcare Register with that of an United Kingdom (UK) consultation database. he main variables

under study are in Paper I–III disease, consultations, and sick leave and in Paper IV education, income, and work status.

he consultation prevalence of low back pain was estimated to 3–4% in the Skåne region while the figure was larger

in the UK. People having low back pain had increased levels of healthcare consultations in general, and more pain diagnoses

in particular. People diagnosed with whiplash associated neck injury had higher healthcare consultation rates

already three years before the neck injury and the postinjury consultation level was associated with the preinjury consultation

levels. Low socioeconomic status was associated with being diagnosed with chronic pain.

It was feasible to use routinely collected databases in the studies of the burden of disease from musculoskeletal disorders,

thus potentially also for other public health disorders. While there are vast potentials with register data, it is also

important to bear in mind limitations due to e.g., missing data and misclassification which may introduce bias. My

main findings indicate a need for early interventions after initial pain and neck injury to prevent the pain to becoming

chronic. Stratification-based management is especially suggested. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Vingård, Eva, Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University.
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Musculoskeletal, pain, neck injury, consultation, sick leave, pharmaceuticals, epidemiology, register
in
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
volume
2013:122
pages
88 pages
publisher
Department of Orthopaedics, Lund University
defense location
Belfragesalen, BMC D15, Lund.
defense date
2013-11-29 09:00:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-87449-95-6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3ec8c851-4d45-420e-ad53-4d9bcd5f7b62 (old id 4145806)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:53:36
date last changed
2023-04-18 20:48:47
@phdthesis{3ec8c851-4d45-420e-ad53-4d9bcd5f7b62,
  abstract     = {{Musculoskeletal disorders are very common and affects the individual by pain and functional impairment, and the society<br/><br>
through work disability and healthcare utilisation. To what extent is less studied. Routinely collected healthcare<br/><br>
registers is a potential resource for epidemiological studies of musculoskeletal disorders. Skåne region, as opposed to<br/><br>
nationally in Sweden, has healthcare registers, covering all care including primary care.<br/><br>
he overall aim of this thesis was to incorporate healthcare registers in the epidemiological research of consultation<br/><br>
prevalence, healthcare consultation and sick leave patterns in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.<br/><br>
he thesis comprises four studies in which the Skåne Healthcare Register was linked with national registers on sick<br/><br>
leave, prescribed drugs, and socioeconomic status. Additionally, the thesis include a comparative study between data<br/><br>
from the Skåne Healthcare Register with that of an United Kingdom (UK) consultation database. he main variables<br/><br>
under study are in Paper I–III disease, consultations, and sick leave and in Paper IV education, income, and work status.<br/><br>
he consultation prevalence of low back pain was estimated to 3–4% in the Skåne region while the figure was larger<br/><br>
in the UK. People having low back pain had increased levels of healthcare consultations in general, and more pain diagnoses<br/><br>
in particular. People diagnosed with whiplash associated neck injury had higher healthcare consultation rates<br/><br>
already three years before the neck injury and the postinjury consultation level was associated with the preinjury consultation<br/><br>
levels. Low socioeconomic status was associated with being diagnosed with chronic pain.<br/><br>
It was feasible to use routinely collected databases in the studies of the burden of disease from musculoskeletal disorders,<br/><br>
thus potentially also for other public health disorders. While there are vast potentials with register data, it is also<br/><br>
important to bear in mind limitations due to e.g., missing data and misclassification which may introduce bias. My<br/><br>
main findings indicate a need for early interventions after initial pain and neck injury to prevent the pain to becoming<br/><br>
chronic. Stratification-based management is especially suggested.}},
  author       = {{Jöud, Anna}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-87449-95-6}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{Musculoskeletal; pain; neck injury; consultation; sick leave; pharmaceuticals; epidemiology; register}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Orthopaedics, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Back and neck pain: Patterns in healthcare consultations}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3031615/4145822.pdf}},
  volume       = {{2013:122}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}