Counting the cost of pain

RESEARCHERS at NUI Galway have worked with economists to establish the cost of pain. The study found that the average cost per chronic pain patient was €5,665 each year. However, the annual costs increased according to the severity of pain, rising to €10,454 per patient for those with the highest level of pain and disability. In-patient hospital treatment accounted for the highest proportion of overall costs. The chief investigator of the study Dr Brian McGuire suggested that, 'improved services for people in the early stages of chronic pain could reduce the long-term use of health services and increase the likelihood of getting back to paid work.' He suggests this could reduce the sizeable economic burden of chronic pain in Ireland.