OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to estimate the direct and indirect costs of low back pain with/without radiant pain (LBP) in Sweden using the concept of “LBP-episode”, and to identify the variation of these across different patients groups. METHODS: Patients visiting healthcare providers, or receiving health insurance benefits, with a LBP-diagnosis in the region of Västra Götaland in 2008-2012 were identified in the administrative database VEGA. Data from additional Swedish national registers including inpatient and outpatient care, drug prescriptions, socioeconomics and social security were extracted. The burden was measured for “LBP-episodes”, defined as time periods with consecutive visits to the healthcare system with a relevant diagnosis code, continuing until 6 months have elapsed without costs incurred by LBP-related visits. RESULTS: More than 72,000 patients were identified, with over 95,000 LBP-episodes. The average episode length was 56/176 days in episodes without/with surgery. The mean total cost per episode was estimated at €5,453, where indirect costs constituted 68.4%, medical visits including diagnostic imaging 14.5%, other inpatient care 8.2%, surgery 7.9%, and pharmaceuticals 1.0%. In men/women, the mean total cost per episode was estimated to €22,174/€24,833 in episodes with surgery, and €4,175/€3,957 in episodes without surgery. The total burden of LBP in Sweden in 2012 was estimated at €704M, with a burden per capita of €73. Higher age, women, comorbidities, surgery and less education were found to be significant predictors of higher costs. CONCLUSIONS: The societal burden of LBP is substantial and varies significantly between different types of patients. It is important to identify periods and interventions within a LBP-episode that can be relevantly adjusted in order to optimize cost-effectiveness of treatment, and also, to realize that results may be dependent on the time frame chosen for a LBP-episode. Acknowledgements: The study was financed with an unrestricted grant from Medtronic.