[HTML][HTML] The economic costs of pain in the United States
In 2008, according to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), about 100 million
adults in the United States were affected by chronic pain, including joint pain or arthritis.
Pain is costly to the nation because it requires medical treatment and complicates treatment
for other ailments. Also, pain lowers worker productivity. Using the 2008 MEPS, we
estimated 1) the portion of total US health care costs attributable to pain; and 2) the annual
costs of pain associated with lower worker productivity. We found that the total costs ranged …
adults in the United States were affected by chronic pain, including joint pain or arthritis.
Pain is costly to the nation because it requires medical treatment and complicates treatment
for other ailments. Also, pain lowers worker productivity. Using the 2008 MEPS, we
estimated 1) the portion of total US health care costs attributable to pain; and 2) the annual
costs of pain associated with lower worker productivity. We found that the total costs ranged …