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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- (-) Back Health and Pain (17)
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- Comparative Effectiveness (4)
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- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- (-) Elderly (17)
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- Health Status (1)
- Imaging (2)
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- Opioids (1)
- Outcomes (5)
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- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (7)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 17 of 17 Research Studies DisplayedCuratolo M, Rundell SD, Gold LS
Long-term effectiveness of epidural steroid injections after new episodes of low back pain in older adults.
The purpose of this prospective study was to compare older adults undergoing epidural steroid injections (ESI) with patients not receiving ESI to test the hypotheses that those on ESI: 1) have worse outcomes before ESI, 2) have improved outcomes after ESI, and 3) have improved outcomes due to a specific ESI effect. The researchers evaluated patients 65 years of age or older from 3 United States health care systems who presented to primary care with new episodes of back pain. The three outcomes assessed were back and leg pain intensity, disability, and quality of life, all of which were evaluated at baseline, and then with 3-, 6-, 12- and 24- month follow-ups. The study found that in ESI patients, pain intensity, disability, and quality of life at baseline were significantly worse than in non-ESI patients. The study concluded that adults 65 and older who were treated with ESI have long-term improvement, but the improvement is not likely to be related to a specific effect of ESI, making epidural steroid injections unlikely to provide long-term benefits.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222; HS022972.
Citation: Curatolo M, Rundell SD, Gold LS .
Long-term effectiveness of epidural steroid injections after new episodes of low back pain in older adults.
Eur J Pain 2022 Aug;26(7):1469-80. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1975..
Keywords: Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Pain, Treatments
Nayfe R, Chansard M, Hynan LS
Comparison of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system and legacy instruments in multiple domains among older veterans with chronic back pain.
This study evaluated construct (convergent and discriminant) validity and time to complete NIH's Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) as compared to legacy instruments. Results showed that, given time efficiency of using PROMIS, along with strong construct validity, PROMIS instruments are a practical choice for measuring multidimensional patient-reported outcomes in older Veterans with chronic low back pain for both research and clinical purposes.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Nayfe R, Chansard M, Hynan LS .
Comparison of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system and legacy instruments in multiple domains among older veterans with chronic back pain.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020 Sep 8;21(1):598. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03587-6..
Keywords: Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Research Methodologies
Rundell SD, Resnik L, Heagerty PJ
Comparing the performance of comorbidity indices in predicting functional status, health-related quality of life, and total health care use in older adults with back pain.
The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to determine how well the functional comorbidity index (FCI) predicted outcomes in older adults with back pain compared to Quan's modification of the Charlson comorbidity index (Quan-Charlson comorbidity index) and the Elixhauser comorbidity index. The investigators concluded that all indices performed similarly in predicting outcomes. The authors indicated that there is still a need to develop better function-based risk-adjustment models that improve prediction of functional outcomes versus standard comorbidity indices.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222; HS022972.
Citation: Rundell SD, Resnik L, Heagerty PJ .
Comparing the performance of comorbidity indices in predicting functional status, health-related quality of life, and total health care use in older adults with back pain.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020 Mar;50(3):143-48. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2020.8764..
Keywords: Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Quality of Life, Healthcare Utilization, Health Status
Jarvik JG, Gold LS, Tan K
Long-term outcomes of a large, prospective observational cohort of older adults with back pain.
The study’s primary goals were to report 2-year outcomes of older adults initiating primary care for back pain and to examine the relative importance of patient factors vs. medical interventions in predicting 2-year disability and pain. The investigators found that baseline patient factors were more important than early interventions in explaining disability and pain after 2 years.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222; HS022972.
Citation: Jarvik JG, Gold LS, Tan K .
Long-term outcomes of a large, prospective observational cohort of older adults with back pain.
Spine J 2018 Jan 29;18(9):1540-51. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.01.018..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Elderly, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Milani CJ, Rundell SD, Jarvik JG
Associations of race and ethnicity with patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization among older adults initiating a new episode of care for back pain.
The purpose of this study was to characterize associations of self-reported race/ethnicity with back pain (BP) patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization among older adults with a new episode of care for BP. The investigators found that Blacks and Hispanics had slightly less improvement in BP-related functional limitations over time, and less spine-related health care utilization, as compared to whites and non-Hispanics, respectively. The authors suggested that residual confounding may explain some of the association between race/ethnicity and health outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222; HS022972.
Citation: Milani CJ, Rundell SD, Jarvik JG .
Associations of race and ethnicity with patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization among older adults initiating a new episode of care for back pain.
Spine 2018 Jul 15;43(14):1007-17. doi: 10.1097/brs.0000000000002499..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Elderly, Healthcare Utilization, Outcomes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Gold LS, Hansen RN, Avins AL
Associations of early opioid use with patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization among older adults with low back pain.
The objective of this study was to compare outcomes and health care utilization of older patients who did versus did not fill opioid prescriptions within 90 days of initiating care for low back pain. Among older patients with new back pain visits, filling 2 or more opioid prescriptions within 90 days of the visit was associated with similar back pain-related outcomes but increased likelihood of filling opioid prescriptions 18 to 24 months later compared with matched patients who did not fill early opioid prescriptions.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222; HS022972.
Citation: Gold LS, Hansen RN, Avins AL .
Associations of early opioid use with patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization among older adults with low back pain.
Clin J Pain 2018 Apr;34(4):297-305. doi: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000000557.
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Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Elderly, Healthcare Utilization, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Opioids
Makris UE, Edwards TC, Lavallee DC
Patient priority weighting of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire does not change results of the lumbar epidural steroid injections for spinal stenosis trial.
The researchers reevaluated whether outcomes for older adults receiving epidural steroid injections with or without corticosteroid improve after using patient-prioritized Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) items. Their findings provide additional evidence that epidural injection of corticosteroid + lidocaine offered minimal or no short-term benefit as compared with epidural injection of lidocaine alone for older adults with lumbar spinal stenosis.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222; HS022418.
Citation: Makris UE, Edwards TC, Lavallee DC .
Patient priority weighting of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire does not change results of the lumbar epidural steroid injections for spinal stenosis trial.
Spine 2017 Jan;42(1):42-48. doi: 10.1097/brs.0000000000001647.
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Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Medication
Fritz JM, Rundell SD, Dougherty P
Deconstructing chronic low back pain in the older adult-step by step evidence and expert-based recommendations for evaluation and treatment. Part vi: Lumbar spinal stenosis.
This article is the sixth in a series of articles designed to deconstruct chronic low back pain (CLBP) in older adults. It focuses on the evaluation and management of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), the most common condition for which older adults undergo spinal surgery. It concluded that lumbar spinal stenosis exists not uncommonly in older adults with CLBP and management often can be accomplished without surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Fritz JM, Rundell SD, Dougherty P .
Deconstructing chronic low back pain in the older adult-step by step evidence and expert-based recommendations for evaluation and treatment. Part vi: Lumbar spinal stenosis.
Pain Med 2016 Mar;17(3):501-10. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnw011..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Elderly, Chronic Conditions, Treatments, Surgery
Tan A, Zhou J, Kuo YF
Variation among primary care physicians in the use of imaging for older patients with acute low back pain.
The authors sought to estimate the variation among primary care providers (PCPs) in the use of diagnostic imaging for older patients with non-specific acute low back pain. They used Texas Medicare claims data and tracked whether each patient received lumbar imaging within 4 weeks of the initial visit. They found that the specific physician seen by a patient accounted for 25 % of the variability in whether imaging was performed and that the use of imaging by individual physicians was stable over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Tan A, Zhou J, Kuo YF .
Variation among primary care physicians in the use of imaging for older patients with acute low back pain.
J Gen Intern Med 2016 Feb;31(2):156-63. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3475-3.
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Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Elderly, Imaging, Primary Care, Practice Patterns
Deyo RA, Bryan M, Comstock BA
Trajectories of symptoms and function in older adults with low back disorders.
The researchers sought to determine whether there are distinct trajectories of back pain and function among older adults and to identify characteristics that distinguish among patients with substantially different prognoses. They found that, although most patients remained relatively stable over a year, latent class analysis identified small groups with major improvement in pain, function, or both.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222.
Citation: Deyo RA, Bryan M, Comstock BA .
Trajectories of symptoms and function in older adults with low back disorders.
Spine 2015 Sep 1;40(17):1352-62. doi: 10.1097/brs.0000000000000975.
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Keywords: Data, Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Chronic Conditions, Outcomes
Rundell SD, Gellhorn AC, Comstock BA
Clinical outcomes of early and later physical therapist services for older adults with back pain.
The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of patients receiving early or later PT services with those not receiving PT among older adults presenting to primary care for a new visit for back pain. It found that among older adults early referral to PT resulted in no or minimal differences in pain, function, or health-related quality at 3, 6, or 12 months compared with a matched group that did not receive early PT.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222.
Citation: Rundell SD, Gellhorn AC, Comstock BA .
Clinical outcomes of early and later physical therapist services for older adults with back pain.
Spine J 2015 Aug;15(8):1744-55. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.04.001..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Elderly, Primary Care, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Edwards TC, Lavallee DC, Bauer Z
Problem areas identified as important to older adults with lumbar spinal stenosis.
The purpose of this study was to determine what outcomes are most important to older adults with spinal stenosis and how well frequently used patient-reported outcomes reflect what is most important to them. It found that older adults with spinal stenosis rated problems related to pain and physical function as the most important outcomes to them.
AHRQ-funded; HS022972.
Citation: Edwards TC, Lavallee DC, Bauer Z .
Problem areas identified as important to older adults with lumbar spinal stenosis.
Spine J 2015 Jul;15(7):1636-44. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.03.008..
Keywords: Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Makris UE, Higashi RT, Marks EG
Ageism, negative attitudes, and competing co-morbidities--why older adults may not seek care for restricting back pain: a qualitative study.
The objective of this study was to understand older adults’ beliefs and perspectives regarding care-seeking for restricting back pain (back pain that restricts activity). Using data from a diverse sample of 93 older adults who reported restricting back pain, it found that illness perceptions (including pain-related beliefs), and interactions with providers may influence older adults’ willingness to seek care for restricting back pain.
AHRQ-funded; HS020648.
Citation: Makris UE, Higashi RT, Marks EG .
Ageism, negative attitudes, and competing co-morbidities--why older adults may not seek care for restricting back pain: a qualitative study.
BMC Geriatr 2015 Apr 8;15:39. doi: 10.1186/s12877-015-0042-z..
Keywords: Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Chronic Conditions
Jarvik JG, Gold LS, Comstock BA
Association of early imaging for back pain with clinical outcomes in older adults.
This study compared function and pain at the 12-month follow-up visit among older adults who received early imaging with those who did not receive early imaging after a new primary care visit for back pain without radiculopathy. It found that early imaging was not associated with better 1-year outcomes. The researchers concluded that the value of early diagnostic imaging in older adults for back pain with radiculopathy is uncertain.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222, HS022972
Citation: Jarvik JG, Gold LS, Comstock BA .
Association of early imaging for back pain with clinical outcomes in older adults.
JAMA. 2015 Mar 17;313(11):1143-53. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.1871..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Elderly, Primary Care, Outcomes, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging
Rundell SD, Sherman KJ, Heagerty PJ
The clinical course of pain and function in older adults with a new primary care visit for back pain.
This study reports the clinical course of older adults presenting for a new primary care visit for back pain, with no healthcare visit for back pain within the prior 6 months, by describing pain intensity, disability, pain interference, and resolution of back pain over 12 months. It found that improvements in disability and interference with activity over 12 months differed according to age, duration of back pain, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and expectation for recovery.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222.
Citation: Rundell SD, Sherman KJ, Heagerty PJ .
The clinical course of pain and function in older adults with a new primary care visit for back pain.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2015 Mar;63(3):524-30. doi: 10.1111/jgs.13241..
Keywords: Elderly, Primary Care, Back Health and Pain, Comparative Effectiveness, Outcomes
Rundell SD, Sherman KJ, Heagerty PJ
Patient-reported outcomes associated with use of physical therapist services by older adults with a new visit for back pain.
The researchers conducted an observational comparative effectiveness research study to investigate the association between types or amounts of physical therapist services and outcomes, such as disability and pain intensity, among older adults. Higher amounts of active physical therapy were associated with decreased back and leg pain and increased odds of clinically meaningful improvements in back and leg pain relative to results obtained with no active physical therapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222.
Citation: Rundell SD, Sherman KJ, Heagerty PJ .
Patient-reported outcomes associated with use of physical therapist services by older adults with a new visit for back pain.
Phys Ther 2015 Feb;95(2):190-201. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20140132..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Comparative Effectiveness, Treatments, Elderly
Jarvik JG, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ
Back pain in seniors: the Back pain Outcomes using Longitudinal Data (BOLD) cohort baseline data.
Back pain, function, and health-related quality of life varied by demographic and geographic factors among seniors, based on data in the Back pain Outcomes using Longitudinal Data (BOLD) Registry. Lower education, female sex, black race, and older age were linked to worse disability.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222
Citation: Jarvik JG, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ .
Back pain in seniors: the Back pain Outcomes using Longitudinal Data (BOLD) cohort baseline data.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014 Apr 23;15:134. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-134..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Elderly, Outcomes, Registries