[Administrative prevalence, treatment and costs of somatoform pain disorder. Analysis of data of the BARMER GEK for the years 2008-2010].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Data on administrative prevalence, types of treatment and disease costs of patients diagnosed with somatoform pain disorder (according to ICD 10) in Germany were not previously available.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We analysed health insurance data from 2008-2010 of 8.5 million people of the German statutory health insurance company BARMER GEK on administrative prevalence of insurants with at least one billing code F 45.4x in 2009 and at least one second billing code F 45.4x in the time period 2008-2010 stratified by age and gender, different professions being involved in treatment, diagnostics and treatment methods applied. The types and costs of out-patient treatment and of in-patient treatment in case of any discharge with diagnosis of F45.4 were analysed.

RESULTS:

The administrative prevalence doubled from 2008 to 2010 after the separation of the previous code F45.4 into F45.40 and F45.41. In 2009, 0.5 % of the insurants were diagnosed with F 45.4, whereby F 45.4 was diagnosed 2.3-fold more often in women than in men. Family practitioners (41 %) and anaesthesiologists (28 %) were the leading specialties in the care of chronic patients. In 2009, 54 % of patients underwent x-ray examination, 25 % magnetic resonance imaging and 11 % computed tomography. In all, 66 % of the chronic patients received basic psychosomatic care, 38 % were prescribed opioids, 12 % underwent spinal nerve anaesthesia and 14 % received psychotherapy. In 2009, the average direct and indirect treatment costs per patient with somatoform pain disorder were 5500 <euro>.

CONCLUSION:

Insurants diagnosed with somatoform pain disorder were probably overtreated with radiology and invasive procedures and with opioids.

• Authors: W Häuser, U Marschall, H L'hoest, K Komossa, P Henningsen
• Journal: Schmerz (Berlin, Germany) (Schmerz) Vol. 27 Issue 4 Pg. 380-6 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1432-2129 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Administrative Prävalenz, Behandlung und Krankheitskosten der somatoformen Schmerzstörung. Analyse von Daten der BARMER GEK für die Jahre 2008-2010.
• PMID: 23860633 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Ambulatory Care (economics, statistics & numerical data)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Chronic Pain (diagnosis, economics, epidemiology, therapy)
• Comorbidity
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Germany
• Health Care Costs (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Infant
• Insurance Claim Review (economics, organization & administration, statistics & numerical data)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• National Health Programs (economics)
• Pain Management (economics, psychology, statistics & numerical data)
• Patient Admission (economics)
• Patient Care Team (economics, statistics & numerical data)
• Sex Factors
• Somatoform Disorders (diagnosis, economics, epidemiology, therapy)
• Utilization Review (statistics & numerical data)
• Young Adult