New groundbreaking Norwegian report: “Carrying the weight”. Back and neck pain: A major challenge for society

This is to our knowledge the first report that takes a close look at that the societal costs of back and neck pain. The analyses are based on existing research literature, registry data, and publicly available statistics. With Norway’s highly developed universal health care system, extensive registries have made it possible to make very reliable calculations of the socioeconomic impact of back and neck pain. The report provides increased evidence related to patients with back and neck pain, their burden of disease, health care utilization and costs, and demonstrates the impact of these conditions on the workforce. The results are alarming!

This report calls for action. There is an urgent need for better and more effective strategies to reduce the enormous disability caused by back and neck pain. Much can be achieved through the implementation of updated research-based knowledge on how to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of low back and neck pain.”

Back and neck pain account for 85% of all the people with musculoskeletal complaints in Norway, and affect 1,2 million Norwegians every year out of a population of 5,3 million. Most of these people are of working age, and more than half are women. Low back and neck pain are the main causes of years lived with disability in Norway, and the value of this health loss is estimated at NOK 165 billion. The conditions also constitute the main causes of absence in the workplace; the value of lost production amounts to NOK 50 billion. Back and neck complaints also pose a burden on the health care sector, and costs NOK 8.7 billion annually. They entail a considerable burden for patients, their relatives, employers, and the welfare system.

Jakob Lothe,
Chair, Norwegian Council for Musculoskeletal Health

The report has been made by Oslo Economics on commission from the Norwegian Chiropractors’ Association and funded by the European Chiropractic Union and the Norwegian Chiropractors Fund.