Identifying prognostic factors predicting outcome in patients with chronic neck pain after multimodal treatment: A retrospective study

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to identify possible prognostic factors to predict drop-out and favorable outcome in patients following a multimodal treatment program at an outpatient rehabilitation clinic.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted on 437 patients with chronic neck pain involved in an exercise-based rehabilitation program of an outpatient rehabilitation center between January 2008 and November 2011. Prognostic factors were analyzed through a univariate and a multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsMultivariate logistic regression revealed that a higher age (OR = 0.960), presence of headache (OR = 0.436) or low back pain (OR = 0.525), and having low levels of depression (OR = 1.044) increase the odds to complete the multimodal treatment program. A high NDI-score (OR = 0.945), a high NRS-score for pain in the upper extremities (OR = 0.862), a low NRS score for pain in the neck (OR = 1.372), and a trauma in the patient's history (OR = 0.411) decrease the odds of having a favorable outcome after the given treatment program.ConclusionIt is important to assess these prognostic factors as they may help therapists to identify patients with a good prognosis or patients at risk. For those at risk, this would allow the treatment approach to be redirected to address their specific needs.