Health-related quality of life among individuals with long-standing spinal cord injury: a comparative study of veterans and non-veterans

This study compared the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between veterans and non-veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Iran. The study found that veterans with SCI had a lower HRQOL than non-veterans with SCI, particularly in measures like bodily pain, general health, vitality, and mental health. The researchers suggest that policy changes and interventions may be needed to improve the quality of life for both groups, such as counseling and vocational therapy for veterans, and meeting basic needs for non-veterans.

• 1
  Male veterans had a significantly lower HRQOL than non-veterans with SCI, except in physical and social functioning.
• 2
  Longer time since injury was associated with better physical health-related quality of life (PCS).
• 3
  Older age and higher education were associated with better mental health-related quality of life (MCS), while being a veteran and having a spinal lesion in the cervical region were associated with poorer MCS.