Resumo

GOUVEIA, Miguel  e  AUGUSTO, Margarida. Indirect costs of chronic pain. Rev. Port. Sau. Pub. [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.2, pp.100-107. ISSN 0870-9025.

In this study we estimate the indirect costs of chronic pain in the lower back and joints, following the human capital methodology. The analysis is conducted from the society's point of view and it is based on the prevalence of chronic pain using a bottom-up approach. We took demographic and social data from the 4th National Health Survey 2005/2006, whilst the database "Quadros do Pessoal" was used to calculate average wages by gender and age group. Knowledge of the indirect costs of chronic pain is important for the development and consolidation of efficient prevention and treatment strategies and to mitigate the consequences of chronic pain in the health and wellbeing of the Portuguese population. The indirect costs of chronic pain in the lower back and joints, estimated using the wage costs of 2010, were €739,85 million in mainland Portugal, where €280,95 million is attributable to the absenteeism generated by short term disability and €458,90 million is the result of the reduction of employment, owing to early retirement and other forms of non-participation in the labor market.

Palavras-chave : Cost of illness; Indirect costs; Chronic pain; Human capital; Prevalence; Low back pain; Joint pain; National Health Survey.

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