Descriptive epidemiology and costs of chiropractic care in Switzerland: a nationwide health insurance database analysis

With the large global burden of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain conditions, better understanding of the epidemiology, costs, and variation of nonpharmacological healthcare such as chiropractic care is needed. The health insurance system in Switzerland covers all chiropractic care and Helsana Insurance is one of the largest Swiss health insurers (15% national market share). Sources of administrative health data (eg, Helsana), present a viable approach to study the epidemiology, utilisation, costs, and variation of chiropractic care in the Swiss population.

Objectives: To examine the descriptive epidemiology and costs of chiropractic care in Switzerland using Helsana’s nationwide health insurance data and describe trends over the past 5 years.

Relevance: This study will help advance fundamental epidemiologic and health economic knowledge of Swiss chiropractic care and may potentially inform evidence-based health system policies to help reduce the burden and costs of MSK pain both in Switzerland and abroad.