The economic burden of low back pain in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness analysis from the healthcare provider’s perspective

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a multifactorial and the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder, whose economic burden is of global concern. Evidence suggests that the burden of LBP in increasing and will continue rising with the greatest burden occurring in low-and-middle-income-countries (LMICs). This study sought to determine the economic burden of LBP in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from the providers perspective. Methods: We used a retrospective prevalence-based cost-of-illness methodology to estimate the direct medical cost of LBP. Direct medical costs constituted costs associated with healthcare utilisation in inpatient care, outpatient care, investigations, consultations, and cost of auxiliary devices. We used diagnostic-specific data obtained from hospital clinical reports. All identifiable direct medical costs were estimated using a top-down approach for costs associated with healthcare and a bottom-up approach for costs associated with inpatient and outpatient care. Results: The prevalence of chronic low back pain CLBP was 24.3% (95% CI: 23.5–25.1). The total annual average direct medical costs associated with LBP was US$5.4 million. Acute low back pain (ALBP) and CLBP contributed 17% (US$0.92 million) and 83% (US$4.48 million) of the total cost, respectively. The per patient total annual average direct medical cost for ALBP and CLBP were US$99.43 and US$1,516.67, respectively. The outpatient care costs contributed the largest share (38.9%, US$2.10 million) of the total annual average direct medical cost, 54.9% (US$1.15 million) of which was attributed to nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The total average cost of diagnostic investigations was estimated at US$831,595.40, which formed 15.4% of the average total cost. Conclusion: The economic burden of LBP is high in South Africa. Majority of costs were attributed to CLBP. The outpatient care costs contributed the largest share percent of the total cost. Pain medication was the main intervention strategy, contributing more than half of the total outpatient costs. Measures should be taken to ensure guideline adherence. Focus should also be placed towards development of prevention measures to minimise the cost.