Spine Related Disability: Understanding The Global Burden of Disease Studies

Spine-Related Disability: Understanding the Global Burden

of Disease Studies

Nicola Hawkinson DNP, RNFA, RNCEO & Founder of SpineSearch

July 15, 2016

The pain epidemic comes at a cost, and it’s a cost that’s largely

preventable.

Who is Affected?

Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010.

Who is Affected?65 million Americans suffer from back pain and back related injuries.

And nearly 95% of lower back pain can be treated without surgery. Even more can be prevented by doing exercises that center around the pelvis and abdomen.

Who is Affected?Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work.

Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. http://www.acatoday.org

Who is Affected?Experts estimate that as much as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives. http://www.acatoday.org

Back injuries can creep up slowly and be debilitating.

There are major life and financial changes that happen when a patient suffers from a back injury.

Who is Affected?Social Security receives more disability applications for back problems than for any other physical illness or injury. http://www.alllaw.com

The Cost The total financial cost of pain to society, which combines the health care cost estimates ranges from $560 to $635 billion. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Cost The annual cost of pain was greater than the annual costs of heart disease ($309 billion), cancer ($243 billion), and diabetes ($188 billion) and nearly 30 percent higher than the combined cost of cancer and diabetes. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Cost Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain and that’s just for the more easily identified costs. http://www.acatoday.org

Lost productivity cost averages between $45–54 billion a year

The Patient How do back injuries effect the patient?

DepressionLack of incomeNo IncomeStressAnxiety

The Patient Some Patients are unable to work after experiencing a back injury and chronic back pain.

Losing the partial or primary income of a household can be traumatic.

The Patient Patients may not be able to afford the care they need and this, in turn, creates a great amount of stress.

Not only is the patient stressed but the family is as well.

Thank You!Nicola Hawkinson, DNP,RNFA, RN

SpineSearch LLCwww.spine-search.com

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