National Trends in the Utilization and Expenditure of Chiropractic Care in U.S. Adults: Analysis of the 2007-2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the trends in the utilization and expenditure of chiropractic care in a representative sample of US adults, aged ≥18 years.

Methods: Serial cross-sectional data (2007-2016) from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were examined. Weighted descriptive statistics were analyzed to obtain national estimates of chiropractic utilization and expenditure, and time-series linear regression was used to assess trends over time. Socio-demographic characteristics and musculoskeletal diagnoses associated with chiropractic use were also reported.

Results: A statistically significantly increasing trend was observed for the number of adults receiving chiropractic care (p < .05), number of visits (p < .05) and utilization rate (P < .05) from 2007 to 2016. A similar trend was not found for chiropractic expenditure during this period (P > .05). The mean number of visits was 8.3 visits per year, with a mean expenditure of $86.94 USD per visit and $721.43 USD per person per year. Mean age of adult chiropractic users each year ranged between 48.6 and 51.2 years old, and users were primarily female (56.3%-60.4%), White persons (90.1%-93.5%), and privately insured (77.3%-82.8%). The most prevalent musculoskeletal diagnoses associated with chiropractic use were low back conditions (45.4%-58.1%), inflammatory/degenerative disc or joint conditions (21.2%-26.8%) and head and neck complaints (9.8%-13.7%).

Conclusion: The findings showed statistically significant increasing trends for the number of adult chiropractic users, the number of visits, and percent utilization of chiropractic care from 2007 to 2016. Conversely, we found a statistically null trend for the total annual expenditure on chiropractic care during the same time period. Findings from this analysis imply that, while chiropractic care appears to be growing, it may still be under-utilized, and more efforts should be devoted to ensuring sustained growth and a larger role in the management of musculoskeletal health.