Associations of Race and Ethnicity With Patient-Reported Outcomes and Health Care Utilization Among Older Adults Initiating a New Episode of Care for Back Pain

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Pa. 1976), 2018-07, Vol.43 (14), p.1007-1017
• Main Authors: Milani, Carlo J., Rundell, Sean D., Jarvik, Jeffrey G., Friedly, Janna, Heagerty, Patrick J., Avins, Andy, Nerenz, David, Gold, Laura S., Turner, Judith A., Annaswamy, Thiru, Nedeljkovic, Srdjan S., Suri, Pradeep
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Back Pain - ethnology; Back Pain - therapy; Cohort Studies; Continental Population Groups - ethnology; Episode of Care; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Reported Outcome Measures
• ISSN: 0362-2436; 1528-1159
• DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002499

STUDY DESIGN.Secondary analysis of the Back Pain Outcomes using Longitudinal Data (BOLD) cohort study. OBJECTIVE.To characterize associations of self-reported race/ethnicity with back pain (BP) patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and health care utilization among older adults with a new episode of care for BP. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.No prior longitudinal studies have characterized associations between multiple race/ethnicity groups, and BP-related PROs and health care utilization in the US. METHODS.This study included 5,117 participants ≥65 years from three US health care systems. The primary BP-related PROs were BP intensity and back-related functional limitations over 24 months. Health care utilization measures included common diagnostic tests and treatments related to BP (spine imaging, spine-related relative value units (RVUs), and total RVUs) over 24 months. Analyses were adjusted for multiple potential confounders, including sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and study site. RESULTS.Baseline BP ratings were significantly higher for Blacks vs. Whites (5.8 vs. 5.0; p