Pain severity and healthcare resource utilization in patients with osteoarthritis in the United States

To evaluate healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) by osteoarthritis (OA) pain severity.

Cross-sectional surveys of US physicians and their patients were conducted between February and May 2017. Using the Numeric Rating Scale, patients were classified by self-reported pain intensity in the last week into mild (0-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (7-10) cohorts. Parameters assessed included clinical characteristics, HCRU, and current caregiver support. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and analysis of variance and chi-square tests were performed.

Patients (n = 841) were mostly female (60.9%) and white (77.8%), with mean age of 64.6 years. Patients reported mild (45.4%), moderate (35.9%), and severe (18.7%) OA pain. Mean number of affected joints varied by pain severity (range mild: 2.7 to severe: 3.6; p < 0.0001). Pain severity was associated with an increased number of physician-reported and patient-reported overall healthcare provider visits (HCPs; both p < 0.001). As pain increased, patients reported an increased need for mobility aids, accessibility modifications to homes, and help with daily activities due to functional disability. The number of imaging tests used to diagnose OA was similar across pain severity but varied when used for monitoring (X-rays: p < 0.0001; computerized tomography scans: p < 0.0447). Hospitalization rates for OA were low but were significantly associated with pain severity (mild: 4.9%; severe: 11.5%). Emergency department visits were infrequent but increasing pain severity was associated with more prior and planned surgeries.

Greater current pain was associated with more prior HCRU including imaging for monitoring progression, HCP visits including more specialty care, hospitalizations, surgery/planned surgery, and loss of independence due to functional disability. Yet rates of hospitalizations and X-ray use were still sizable even among patients with mild pain. These cross-sectional findings warrant longitudinal assessment to further elucidate the impact of pain on HCRU.