Table 2.
Demographics, pain, and other relevant clinical characteristics of the study population (n = 28)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Demographics | |
| Gender (n = 28) | |
| Male | 7/28 (25%) |
| Female | 21/28 (75%) |
| Age (y), mean ± SD | 48.3 ± 18.0 |
| Pain characteristics | |
| Pain location | |
| Right upper chest | 1/28 (3.6%) |
| Right lower chest | 3/28 (10.7%) |
| Left upper chest | 3/28 (10.7%) |
| Left lower chest | 2/28 (7.1%) |
| Right abdomen | 16/28 (57.1%) |
| Left abdomen | 3/28 (10.7%) |
| Epigastric | 1/28 (3.6%) |
| Maximum pain level, mean ± SD (10-point scale) | 7.4 ± 2.5 |
| Duration of pain (mo), mean ± SD | 36.9 ± 37.9 |
| Duration of worsening of pain (mo), mean ± SD | 7.6 ± 9.5 |
| Management and health costs | |
| Number of physicians visited for pain, mean ± SD | 5 ± 2.8 |
| Number of patients with prior imaging | 20/28 (71%) |
| Number of patients with prior endoscopy/colonoscopy | 5/28 (18%) |
| Medicare payment for prior work-up/patient, mean ± SD | $1006 ± 568 |
| Medicare payment for prior work-up, sum (n = 28) | $28 175 |
| Medicare payment for MRN, mean ± SD | $355 ± 105 |
| Medicare payment for MRN, sum (n = 28) | $9937 |
MRN, MR neurography.