A seventeen-year, population-based study to identify dynamic patterns of interfering neck pain and its burden in South Korea

Aim

The aim of this study were to introduce a profile of a nationwide cohort for patients with neck pain and to identify the patterns of recurrent neck pain over time.

Methods

Health insurance data for 1,127,323 patients (43.5 ± 11.5 years, 60.8% females) with neck pain in 2010 were extracted from the National Health Information Database of South Korea. Data on the duration and frequency of neck pain and the number of healthcare visits recorded between 2002 and 2018 were screened and used for descriptive analysis.

Results

During the study period, patients experienced 4.1 episodes of neck pain, and 74% of patients experienced multiple episodes. The duration of one episode was 12.1 ± 35.7 days. Following each episode, more than 73% of patients experienced a subsequent episode of neck pain. As patients experienced more episodes, the recurrence rate increased gradually from 73% to 80%, and subsequent episodes occurred in a shorter time and lasted longer with a higher number of healthcare visits, compared to a preceding episode.

Conclusion

The study highlighted the dynamic pattern of interfering neck pain, with episodes occurring more frequently and lasting longer over time. Early intensive management with a long-term follow-up is recommended to prevent a dynamic pattern of interfering neck pain.