Use of Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain by Medicaid Enrollees

Figures

Figure.

Reasons for exclusion from analyses. LBP=low back pain.

Appendix 1.

ICD-9 Codes Used to Identify Low Back Pain^a

^a ICD-9=International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision; NEC=not elsewhere classified; NOS=not otherwise specified.

Table 1.

Descriptive Characteristics of Study Sample^{^a}

↵^a Data are reported as percentages unless otherwise indicated. CCI=Charlson Comorbidity Index, NSAIDs=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
^b The use of physical therapy was categorized on the basis of its position in the patient's care process as follows: physical therapy entry=physical therapy was the setting for the entry visit, physical therapy early=physical therapy was not the entry setting but was received within 14 days of entry, physical therapy delayed=physical therapy was not the entry setting and was received more than 14 days after entry.

Table 2.

Factors Associated With Physical Therapy Use^{^a}

↵^a The use of physical therapy was categorized on the basis of its position in the patient's care process as follows: physical therapy entry=physical therapy was the setting for the entry visit, physical therapy early=physical therapy was not the entry setting but was received within 14 days of entry, physical therapy delayed=physical therapy was not the entry setting and was received more than 14 days after entry. aOR=adjusted odds ratio, CI=confidence interval, NSAID=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
^b Sample size was reduced by removing patients with physical therapy entry and other entry visit settings from the analysis.
^c Sample size included only patients receiving physical therapy.

Table 3.

Factors Associated With Health Care Use and Cost Outcomes^{^a}

↵^a aOR=adjusted odds ratio, CI=confidence interval, NSAID=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
^b No patients entering care in physical therapy had surgery during the 1-year follow-up period.

Table 4.

Variables Associated With Total Low Back Pain–Related Health Care Costs Over 1-Year Follow-up Period^{^a}

↵^a A positive coefficient indicates that the variable was associated with higher costs; a negative coefficient indicates that the variable was associated with lower costs. CI=confidence interval, NSAID=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.