Prevalence of comorbidities and secondary health conditions among the Finnish population with spinal cord injury

Abstract Study design A cross-sectional study. Objectives To explore the prevalence of comorbidities, secondary health conditions (SHCs), and multimorbidity in the Finnish population with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting The data were collected from the Finnish Spinal Cord Injury Study (FinSCI). Participants were identified from three SCI outpatient clinics responsible for the lifelong follow-up of persons with SCI in Finland, (n = 884 participants, response rate; 50%). Methods The FinSCI-questionnaire included a question from the National Study of Health, Well-being, and Service (FinSote) for screening 12 comorbidities. The reference data of the general population for that question were received from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. The Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Condition Scale (SCI-SCS) was used to screen 16 SHCs. The data were analysed with univariate testing and multivariable negative binomial regression modelling. Results The most common comorbidities were high blood pressure/hypertension (38%), back problems (28%), and high cholesterol (22%). The most common SHCs were joint and muscle pain (81%), muscle spasms (74%), chronic pain (71%), and bowel problems (71%). The prevalence of comorbidities was highest among persons aged ≥76 years (mean; 2.0; scale range; 0–12). The prevalence of SHCs was highest in the severity of SCI group C1–4 AIS A, B, and C (mean; 8.9; scale range; 0–16). Conclusions Further research on geriatrics in SCI, non-traumatic SCI, and knowledge of the needs of persons with cervical lesion AIS A, B, or C is required, due to the fact that the prevalence of multimorbidity is high in these groups.

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Associations between health behaviour, secondary health conditions and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury

African Journal of Disability ◽

10.4102/ajod.v8i0.463 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mokgadi K. Mashola ◽

Diphale J. Mothabeng

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Health Behaviour ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cord Injury

Background: The development of secondary health conditions (SHCs) after spinal cord injury (SCI) is common and can affect an individual’s emotional well-being, and his or her health-related quality of life (QOL). Little is known about relationships between performing health-benefiting behaviours and the presence (or absence) of SHCs and QOL, particularly in South Africa.Objectives: This research study was conducted in order to determine the associations between health behaviour, SHCs and QOL in people with SCI (PWSCI).Method: This cross-sectional study included 36 PWSCI discharged from a private rehabilitation facility in Pretoria, South Africa. The PWSCI completed questionnaires pertaining to lifestyle, independence, presence of SHCs, social support and QOL. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as correlation tests and chi-square test of independence (x2) using the SPSS v25. Moderate, moderately high and high correlations are reported (Pearson r ≥ 0.4). Results were significant if p 0.05.Results: Participation in health-benefiting behaviour was associated with increased QOL (r = 0.457, p 0.01) and increased social support from family and friends (r = 0.425, p 0.01), which was associated with increased QOL (r = 0.671, p 0.001). Not participating in specific neuromusculoskeletal health behaviours was found to be associated with the overall presence of SHCs (r = -0.426, p 0.01).Conclusions: Participating in health-benefiting behaviour can reduce the development of SHCs and subsequently increase QOL in PWSCI. Health professionals must focus on minimising the development of SHCs by providing specific education on good health-benefiting behaviour.

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Secondary health conditions in persons with a spinal cord injury for at least 10 years: design of a comprehensive long-term cross-sectional study

Disability and Rehabilitation ◽

10.3109/09638288.2012.712196 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 35 (13) ◽

pp. 1104-1110 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Jacinthe J. E. Adriaansen ◽

Floris W. A. van Asbeck ◽

Eline Lindeman ◽

Lucas H. V. van der Woude ◽

Sonja de Groot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cord Injury

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Ageing, Disability, and Spinal Cord Injury: Some Issues of Analysis

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research ◽

10.1155/2018/4017858 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Roberto Pili ◽

Luca Gaviano ◽

Lorenzo Pili ◽

Donatella Rita Petretto

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Life Expectancy ◽

Well Being ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Share Data

Spinal cord injury is a disabling disorder, worldwide spread, with important consequences on functioning and health conditions and impacts on physical, psychological, and social well-being. The consequences are related to the lesion itself and to other complications related to the lesion. In the last decades, there have been an increasing of the mean ages of onset and also an increase in life expectancy after the lesion. So, differently from the past, people with spinal cord injury can age after the lesion. Taking into account the need to share data and information about specific disabling conditions and their relationship with ageing, this paper aims to discuss some issues from recent literature on the relationship between aging and disability in the spinal cord injury, according to a narrative review approach. A narrative review of the literature on ageing and spinal cord injury was undertaken. Search was based on the following electronic databases: PubMed/Medline and Ovid/PsychINFO. A combination of the following keywords was used: (1) “ageing” or “aging” and (2) “spinal cord injury” or “spinal cord lesion” and (3) disability. Data on consequences of the lesion in the life of aging people, secondary health conditions, life expectancy, participation, and quality of life are discussed. Then, a brief discussion of clinical issues and the role of interventions aimed to promote wellbeing, health, quality of life, and participation of people with spinal cord injury is proposed.

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