Population-based consultation patterns in patients with shoulder pain diagnoses

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Public Health

Background:

• Doctor-diagnosed shoulder pain is a common condition.
• Understanding its prevalence and incidence is crucial for healthcare planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the annual consultation prevalence and new onset consultation rate for shoulder pain.
• To identify the most frequent shoulder pain diagnoses and consultation patterns.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study in a Swedish county using ICD-10 codes (M75) for shoulder pain diagnoses in 2006.
• Calculation of annual prevalence and new onset consultation rates.
• Analysis of specific shoulder conditions and consultation duration.

Main Results:

• Annual consultation prevalence was approximately 1% (103/10,000 women, 98/10,000 men).
• New onset rates were 80/10,000 women and 74/10,000 men, peaking in middle to older age groups.
• Rotator cuff and impingement syndromes were the most common diagnoses; most patients had short consultation periods.

Conclusions:

• Annual consultation prevalence for shoulder pain is similar in both genders.
• Impingement and rotator cuff syndromes are the leading causes of shoulder pain consultations.
• The majority of patients with shoulder pain consult a doctor only once.