Clinical Course in Patients Seeking Primary Care for Back or Neck Pain: A Prospective 5-Year Follow-Up of Outcome and Health Care Consumption with Subgroup Analysis

Abstract

In a cohort of individuals of working age seeking primary care for nonspecific back or neck pain, it can be expected that about half of the population will report pain and disability at the 5-year follow-up. A significant proportion will report recurrence or continual pain and health care consumption. Pain and disability were associated with recurrence or continual pain and health care consumption. Further analysis is needed to identify additional predictors for 5-year outcome, taking into account 1-year follow-up results. Since many patients will have recurrence or continual pain, health policies and clinical decision models for long-term outcome must allow for these aspects.