[Analysis of the cost of illness in backache]

Back pain has become quite a health problem in today's modern industrial society. Even though an excellent network of doctors and efficient treatments is available and most of the patients need only a few treatments, back pain is a common cause of illness and inability to work. This amounts to a considerable reduction in quality of life for those affected, additionally this also leads to a high economic burden for the national economy and the solidarity of the insured.

The total costs caused by back pain come up to about 34 billion DM per year according to the present study. Ten billion DM of these amount to direct costs, which are divided into costs for physician visits (including diagnostic procedures) at about 35%, hospital, treatment at about 22%, rehabilitation at about 21%, physical therapy at about 17% and medication at about 5%. Regarding total costs, which are composed of around 70% indirect costs, the direct costs relativize immensly.

Savings through restrictive prescriptions for medications therefore have no great impact on total costs. Only a more efficient therapy, which reduces sick days, number of recurrences and development of chronic illness as well as a more effective prevention, is able to limit the costs of back pain in the long-run. Therefore, more research on a broader base may result in a significant benefit in this area.