Direct costs of low back pain in hospitals financed by the Unified Health System

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain is a highly disabling symptom, which leads to a negative social impact for people who experience the symptom, and economic for public coffers in several countries, with excessive and sometimes unnecessary expenses with non-resolving procedures. OBJECTIVES: To report the number of clinical and surgical procedures and the direct costs of low back pain in hospitals financed by the Unified Health System. METHODS: Data on clinical and surgical procedures were collected in the Hospital Information System on the DATASUS website, in the period between 2013 and 2018. A descriptive analysis of the data was carried. RESULTS: in the six years analyzed, the procedures for the treatment of low back pain cost R$ 24,427,238. These costs have increased significantly over the years observed. 1,689 surgical procedures were performed and each cost an average of R$ 3,290. The southeastern region of the country was the one that had the greatest financial expenditure for the treatment of the symptom (R$ 12,442,930). CONCLUSION: The cost of the low back pain over the years to the public system is increasing rapidly and is probably driven by the increase in the number of surgeries.