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Does Neuromodulation Reduce Chronic Pain Patient Emergency Department Utilization?
Christopher Figueroa1, Amir Hadanny2, Kyle Kroll1
1Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA.
Neurosurgery
|January 4, 2022
Summary
Neuromodulation (NM) significantly reduces emergency department (ED) visits for chronic pain patients compared to conventional treatments. Opioid use increases ED visits in both groups, highlighting the need for comprehensive pain management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pain Medicine
- Health Services Research
- Neurology
Background:
- Chronic pain affects millions of US adults, leading to frequent emergency department (ED) visits.
- Neuromodulation (NM) is a therapeutic approach that has shown potential in reducing healthcare utilization for chronic pain management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare emergency department (ED) utilization rates between chronic pain patients who received neuromodulation (NM) and those who did not.
- To identify factors influencing ED visits in chronic pain populations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 2516 patients with failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, or neuropathic pain from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019.
- Patients were categorized into NM-treated and non-NM cohorts.
- Pain-related ED visits between 2017 and 2019 were compared, with analysis of demographic data, medications, and pain provider visits.
Main Results:
- The NM cohort showed a significantly lower rate of pain-related ED visits (10.0%) compared to the non-NM cohort (15.1%).
- Predictors of ED visits included younger age, shorter distance to hospital, lower income, and opioid/non-opioid use.
- Opioid use was a significant predictor of ED visits specifically within the NM cohort.
Conclusions:
- Neuromodulation therapy is associated with reduced emergency department utilization in chronic pain patients.
- Opioid use independently increases ED visits, underscoring the importance of multimodal pain management.
- Neuromodulation may improve pain outcomes and reduce acute pain exacerbations, thereby limiting healthcare resource utilization.
