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Back pain causes $9.5 billion costs in inpatient stays

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, February 14, 2011

Back problems accounted for approximately 663,000 inpatient stays in the U.S. in 2008, according a February 2 statement from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). That’s an average of 1,820 patients per day who are admitted to the hospital for back pain (i.e., back disorders and/or surgery).

Seniors age 65–84 were more likely to be hospitalized for back pain. Women were also more likely than men to be hospitalized.

The overall costs for inpatient stays for back problems totaled more than $9.5 billion in 2008, the ninth most expensive condition treated in U.S. hospitals.

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