Chronic pain-related consultations to the emergency department of children with complex pain conditions: A retrospective analysis of healthcare utilization and costs

BACKGROUND: There is limited information regarding the effects of pediatric chronic pain management on the number and cost of chronic pain–related emergency department (ED) consultations. AIM: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the number and costs of chronic pain–related ED consultations of children and adolescents with chronic pain conditions at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH). METHODS: Charts of patients followed by the Edwards Family Interdisciplinary Center for Complex Pain (CCP) of the MCH between April 2017 and December 2018 were reviewed. ED consultations, specialist consultations, medication prescriptions, hospital admissions, and outpatient consultation referrals were assessed for the period of 1 year before and after the patients’ first consultation with the CCP. Associated costs were also calculated. RESULTS: One-hundred sixty-eight patients were included in the analysis. Fifty-one percent consulted the ED and had 151 chronic pain–related ED consultations within 1 year before their initial CCP consultation. In the year following their first CCP consultation, 52 patients (31%) consulted the ED, of which 24 consultations were chronic pain–related (84% reduction). There was an 81% reduction in the costs associated with chronic pain–related ED consultations within 1 year after CCP management. In addition, there was a significant reduction in ED interventions within 1 year after CCP management, though there was no change in medication prescriptions, hospital admissions, or subspecialist consultations. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with chronic pain conditions had fewer chronic pain–related ED consultations within 1 year after the first evaluation by an interdisciplinary center for complex pain, contributing to reduced ED costs.