Suicide Mortality After Spinal Cord Injury in the United States: Injury Cohorts Analysis

Objectives

To compare 12-year suicide-specific mortalities of 3 different injury cohorts, identify the risk factors for suicide mortality after spinal cord injury (SCI), and investigate whether suicide mortality is higher among those with SCI than in the general population.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

United States hospitals (n=28) designated as SCI Model Systems.

Participants

Participants (N=31,339) injured between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 1999.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

Suicide death after SCI.

Results

The crude annual suicide mortality rate during the first 12 years after SCI was 91 per 100,000 person-years for 1973 to 1979 injury cohort, 69 per 100,000 person-years for 1980 to 1989 injury cohort, and 46 per 100,000 person-years for 1990 to 1999 injury cohort. Suicide mortality was associated with race, injury severity, and years since injury. The standardized mortality ratios for the 3 cohorts were 5.2, 3.7, and 3.0, respectively.

Conclusions

Suicide mortality among those with SCI decreased over 3 injury cohorts, but it still remained 3 times higher than that of the general population.     

Sensitivity of the SCI-FI/AT in Individuals With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Objective

To examine the ability of the Spinal Cord Injury-Functional Index/Assistive Technology (SCI-FI/AT) measure to detect change in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Change in Life Satisfaction of Adults With Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury

Chen Y, Anderson CJ, Vogel LC, Chlan KM, Betz RR, McDonald CM. Change in life satisfaction of adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury.

Objectives

To examine the change in life satisfaction over time and potential contributing factors among adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design

Prospective dynamic cohort study.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Individuals who sustained a SCI before age 19 years (N=278) were initially interviewed at age 24 years or older and followed on an annual basis between 1996 and 2006.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

A structured telephone interview was conducted to obtain the measures of Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), physical independence, participation, and psychologic functioning. The hierarchical linear modeling was performed to characterize individual person-specific time paths and estimate the average rate of change in SWLS over time.

Results

A total of 1171 interviews were conducted among 184 men and 94 women (89% white; baseline age, 27.1±3.4y; baseline years since injury, 12.8±4.9). The initial SWLS score averaged 24.2 and was estimated to increase by 0.14 a year (P=.10). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the overall life satisfaction was significantly higher for women and those who were married/living with a partner; were employed/students; did not use illicit drugs; and scored high in the FIM, the mental health component of the Short Form-12, and the social integration subscale of the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique. The rate of change in life satisfaction did not differ significantly by any personal, medical, and psychosocial characteristics under investigation.

Conclusions

The study findings suggest that people who feel unsatisfied with life initially are likely to stay unsatisfied over time if the critical determinant factors remain unchanged in their life. To minimize the risk of decreasing life satisfaction, several modifiable risk factors identified in the present study could be targeted for intervention.     

Personal Bankruptcy After Traumatic Brain or Spinal Cord Injury: The Role of Medical Debt

Relyea-Chew A, Hollingworth W, Chan L, Comstock BA, Overstreet KA, Jarvik JG. Personal bankruptcy after traumatic brain or spinal cord injury: the role of medical debt.

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of medical debt among traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who discharged their debts through bankruptcy.

Design

A cross-sectional comparison of bankruptcy filings of injured versus randomly selected bankruptcy petitioners.

Setting

Patients hospitalized with SCI or TBI (1996-2002) and personal bankruptcy petitioners (2001-2004) in western Washington State.

Participants

Subjects (N=186) who filed for bankruptcy, comprised of 93 patients with previous SCI or TBI and 93 randomly selected bankruptcy petitioners.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Medical and nonmedical debt, assets, income, expenses, and employment recorded in the bankruptcy petition.

Results

Five percent of randomly selected petitioners and 26% of petitioners with TBI or SCI had substantial medical debt (debt that accounted for more than 20% of all unsecured debts). SCI and TBI petitioners had fewer assets and were more likely to be receiving government income assistance at the time of bankruptcy than controls. SCI and TBI patients with a higher blood alcohol content at injury were more likely to have substantial medical debts (odds ratio=2.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-7.00).

Conclusions

Medical debt plays an important role in some bankruptcies after TBI or SCI. We discuss policy options for reducing financial distress after serious injury.     

Psychological Distress,Quality of Life,and Burden in Caregivers During Community Reintegration After Spinal Cord Injury

Objectives

To examine relations between psychological distress, health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), and burden among caregivers of people with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) over time, and to determine whether the data are more consistent with a wear and tear or adaptation trajectory.

Design

Prospective longitudinal cohort study with measurements at 4 time points (6wk prior to discharge from subacute inpatient rehabilitation and 6wk, 1y, and 2y postdischarge to community).

Setting

Rehabilitation units.

Participants

Participants (N=44; spouses, parents, others) nominated as a primary caregiver by the person with SCI.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) assessed the extent of psychological distress, HR-QOL, and burden, respectively, among caregivers. Functional status and community participation/care needs of the persons with SCI were assessed by the FIM and Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, respectively.

Results

Multilevel piecewise models showed that psychological distress (GHQ-28 score) decreased significantly after discharge (slope estimate =−.03, P<.008). At the predischarge time point, the caregivers’ mental component summary score on the SF-36 was significantly lower than Australian national norms. The scores improved from predischarge to 6 weeks postdischarge (slope estimate =.39, P<.001), but they did not change significantly across the following 2 time points (slope estimate =.02, P=.250). At all 3 postdischarge time points, the mental component summary scores were not significantly different to national norms. In contrast, the physical component summary score of the SF-36 did not significantly change across the predischarge and 6-week postdischarge time points (slope estimate =−.14, P=.121) and the 3 postdischarge time points (slope estimate <.01, P=.947). Scores at all 4 time points were not significantly different to the national norms. Caregiver burden showed no significant change over the study period (predischarge to 6wk postdischarge slope estimate =.02, P=.426; 3 postdischarge time point slope estimates <−.01, P=.334). Reflecting this, 42% of caregivers met CSI caseness criterion at the first time point, and 46% met the criterion at the fourth (2y) time point. Higher burden was significantly correlated with increased hours of care being provided by the caregiver and lower FIM scores and lower community participation (for the person with SCI) at each time point. Psychological distress correlated with caregiver burden at 6 weeks and 1 year postdischarge but not at 2 years postdischarge.

Conclusions

The trajectory of scores for psychological distress and HR-QOL was consistent with caregiver adaptation to the challenge of providing support to a person with SCI in the early postdischarge period. Caregiver burden did not display similar reductions but did not worsen over the study period.     

Spinal Cord Injury Peer Mentorship: Applying Self-Determination Theory to Explain Quality of Life and Participation

Objectives

To investigate the role of spinal cord injury (SCI) peer mentorship on quality of life (QoL)/participation, and test a self-determination theory model that explains the role of SCI peer mentorship on these outcomes.

Racial Differences in Weight Gain: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study of Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

Objective

To assess racial differences in body mass index (BMI) change over 5 years among people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Associations Between Insurance Provider and Assistive Technology Use for Computer and Electronic Devices 1 Year After Tetraplegia: Findings From the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems National Database

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between insurance provider and reported assistive technology (AT) use to access computers and electronic devices 1 year after sustaining tetraplegia.DesignMulticenter cross-sectional study.SettingParticipants enrolled in the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) National Database.InterventionsNot applicable.ParticipantsMen and women with tetraplegia (N=498) enrolled in the SCIMS National Database were included in the analysis.Main Outcome MeasuresThe primary study outcome was the use of AT when operating a computer or other mobile electronic device. The primary predictor was the subject’s principal health insurance provider, which was grouped into the 3 categories: government (Medicare, Medicaid, and other government), private (private insurance, private funds, and other), and workers’ compensation.ResultsOverall, 34.7% of participants reported using AT to access computers and electronic devices. Results of logistic regression analysis revealed sex, injury level, injury completeness, self-perceived health status, and 12-month history of pressure ulcer were all significantly associated with AT use. After adjusting for these factors, participants with workers’ compensation were more likely to report AT use than individuals with either government or private insurance.ConclusionsDespite significant technological advances, AT is not readily available to the people who might benefit most from its use. Findings from the present study are the first to shed light on AT funding sources and reveal that individuals with workers’ compensation are more likely use AT than individuals with either government or private insurance. Additional work focused on AT use and functional outcomes is needed to assess the effect of barriers to use. Collectively, this work may inform insurers of the importance of having AT available for this unique population to potentially improve quality of life and participation.     

Describing Functioning in People Living With Spinal Cord Injury in Switzerland: A Graphical Modeling Approach

Objective

To describe functioning in people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) in Switzerland.

Changes in Pulmonary Function During the Early Years After Inpatient Rehabilitation in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective

To describe changes in pulmonary function (PF) during the 5 years after inpatient rehabilitation in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to study potential determinants of change.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Eight rehabilitation centers with specialized SCI units.

Participants

Persons with SCI (N=180).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

PF was determined by forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) as a percentage of the predicted value, at the start of rehabilitation, at discharge, and 1 and 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The population was divided into 3 subgroups on the basis of whether their PF declined, stabilized, or improved.

Results

FVC improved on average 5.1% over the whole period between discharge of inpatient rehabilitation and 5 years thereafter, but changes differed largely between persons. FVC declined in 14.9% of the population during the first year after discharge. During this year, body mass index, inspiratory muscle strength, change in peak power output, and change in peak oxygen uptake differed significantly between subgroups. FVC declined in 28.3% of the population during the following 4 years, but no differences were found between the subgroups for this period. Subgroups based on changes in FEV₁ differed only with respect to change in peak oxygen uptake the first year after discharge.

Conclusions

In our study, many persons with SCI showed a decline in PF, larger than the normal age-related decline, during the 5 years after inpatient rehabilitation. Results suggest that a decline in PF during the first year after inpatient rehabilitation is associated with higher body mass index, lower inspiratory muscle strength, and declined physical fitness.     

Health Conditions: Effect on Function,Health-Related Quality of Life,and Life Satisfaction After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. A Prospective Observational Registry Cohort Study

Objective

To analyze relations among injury, demographic, and environmental factors on function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and life satisfaction in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Pilot Study: Elevated Circulating Levels of the Proinflammatory Cytokine Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Patients With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

Objective

To test the hypothesis that the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is elevated in the circulation of patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) relative to uninjured subjects, and secondarily to identify additional immune mediators that are elevated in subjects with chronic SCI.

Design

Prospective, observational pilot study.

Setting

Outpatient clinic of a department of physical medicine and rehabilitation and research institute in an academic medical center.

Participants

Individuals with chronic (>1y from initial injury) SCI (n=22) and age- and sex-matched uninjured subjects (n=19).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Plasma levels of MIF, as determined by a commercially available multiplex suspension immunoassay. The relationship between MIF levels and clinical/demographic variables was also examined. As a secondary outcome, we evaluated other cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors.

Results

Plasma MIF levels were significantly higher in subjects with chronic SCI than in control subjects (P<.001). Elevated MIF levels were not correlated significantly with any one clinical or demographic characteristic. Subjects with SCI also exhibited significantly higher plasma levels of monokine induced by interferon-gamma/chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 9 (P<.03), macrophage colony stimulating factor (P<.035), interleukin-3 (P<.044), and stem cell growth factor beta (SCGF-β) (P<.016). Among subjects with SCI, the levels of SCGF-β increased with the time from initial injury.

Conclusions

These data confirm the hypothesis that MIF is elevated in subjects with chronic SCI and identify additional novel immune mediators that are also elevated in these subjects. This study suggests the importance of examining the potential functional roles of MIF and other immune factors in subjects with chronic SCI.     

Impact of Blood Pressure Dysregulation on Health-Related Quality of Life in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: Development of a Conceptual Model

Objectives

To identify medically relevant aspects of blood pressure dysregulation (BPD) related to quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to propose an integrated conceptual framework based on input from both individuals with SCI and their clinical providers. This framework will serve as a guide for the development of a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure specifically related to BPD.

Design

Three focus groups with individuals with SCI and 3 groups with SCI providers were analyzed using grounded-theory based qualitative analysis to ascertain how blood pressure impacts health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with SCI.

Setting

Focus groups were conducted at 2 Veterans Affairs medical centers and a research center.

Participants

Individuals with SCI (n=27) in 3 focus groups and clinical providers (n=25) in 3 focus groups.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Not applicable.

Results

Qualitative analysis indicated that all focus groups spent the highest percentage of time discussing symptoms of BPD (39%), followed by precipitators/causes of BPD (16%), preventative actions (15%), corrective actions (12%), and the impact that BPD has on social or emotional functioning (8%). While patient/consumer focus groups and provider focus groups raised similar issues, providers spent more time discussing precipitators/causes of BPD and preventative actions (38%) than patient/consumer groups (24%).

Conclusions

These results suggest that BPD uniquely and adversely impacts HRQOL in persons with SCI. While both individuals with SCI and their providers highlighted the relevant symptoms of BPD, the SCI providers offered additional detailed information regarding the precipitators/causes and what can be done to prevent/treat BPD. Further, the results suggest that persons with SCI are aware of how BPD impacts their HRQOL and are able to distinguish between subtle signs and symptoms. These findings exemplify the need for a validated and sensitive clinical measurement tool that can assess the extent to which BPD impacts HRQOL in patients with SCI.     

Clinical Assessment of Spasticity in People With Spinal Cord Damage: Recommendations From the Ability Network,an International Initiative

A thorough assessment of the extent and severity of spasticity, and its effect on functioning, is central to the effective management of spasticity in persons with spinal cord damage (SCD). These individuals however do not always receive adequate assessment of their spasticity. Inadequate assessment compromises management when the effect of spasticity and/or need for intervention are not fully recognized. Assessment is also central to determining treatment efficacy. A barrier to spasticity assessment has been the lack of consensus on clinical and functional measures suitable for routine clinical practice. To extend on existing work, a working group of the Ability Network identified and consolidated information on possible measures, and then synthesized and formulated findings into practical recommendations for assessing spasticity and its effect on function in persons with SCD. Sixteen clinical and functional measures that have been used for this purpose were identified using a targeted literature review. These were mapped to the relevant domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to assess the breadth of their coverage; coverage of many domains was found to be lacking, suggesting a focus for future work. The advantages, disadvantages, and usefulness of the measures were assessed using a range of criteria, with a focus on usefulness and feasibility in routine clinical practice. Based on this evaluation, a selection of measures suitable for initial and follow-up assessments are recommended. The recommendations are intended to have broad applicability to a variety of health care settings where people with SCD are managed.     

Challenges to the Standardization of Trauma Data Collection in Burn,Traumatic Brain Injury,Spinal Cord Injury,and Other Trauma Populations: A Call for Common Data Elements for Acute and Longitudinal Trauma Databases

Objective

Common data elements (CDEs) promote data sharing, standardization, and uniform data collection, which facilitate meta-analyses and comparisons of studies. Currently, there is no set of CDEs for all trauma populations, but their creation would allow researchers to leverage existing databases to maximize research on trauma outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess the extent of common data collection among 5 trauma databases.

Quality of Life and Adaptation in People With Spinal Cord Injury: Response Shift Effects From 1 to 5 Years Postinjury

Objective

To investigate response shift effects in spinal cord injury (SCI) over 5 years postinjury.

Implementation of Pressure Injury Prevention Best Practices Across 6 Canadian Rehabilitation Sites: Results From the Spinal Cord Injury Knowledge Mobilization Network

Objective

To use the theoretical frameworks of implementation science to implement pressure injury (PI) prevention best practices in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation.

Routine Urine Testing at the Spinal Cord Injury Annual Evaluation Leads to Unnecessary Antibiotic Use: A Pilot Study and Future Directions

Objectives

To measure the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) at the time of their annual examination and to examine the effect on urine testing during the annual examination on subsequent antibiotic use.