The association between the etiology of a spinal cord injury and time to mortality in the United States: A 44-year investigation

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2019 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2018.1505311 · Published: July 1, 2019

Simple Explanation

This study looked at how the cause of a spinal cord injury (SCI) affects how long people live after the injury. It used data from a large database collected over 44 years. The study found that people with SCIs caused by medical issues, pedestrian accidents, violence, falls, and vehicle accidents had a higher risk of dying earlier compared to those with sports-related SCIs. The researchers suggest that understanding these links can help improve prevention programs and post-injury care, potentially leading to longer life expectancies for people with SCIs.

Study Duration

44 Years

Participants

42,627 cases with spinal cord injuries

Evidence Level

Prospective cohort study

Key Findings

1
Compared to sports-related SCIs, medical-related SCIs had twice the hazard for mortality.
2
SCIs from automobile and motorcycle crashes showed a higher hazard for mortality compared to other vehicular SCIs.
3
Diving-related SCIs had a higher mortality hazard compared to other sports-related SCIs.

Research Summary

This study examined the association between the etiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) and time to mortality using data from 42,627 cases in the SCI Model System Collaborative Survival Study Database from 1973 to 2017. The results indicated that SCI etiology categories and certain sub-categories were associated with a higher risk for early mortality. The study suggests that understanding factors interacting with SCI etiologies may provide insights for improving survival and informing SCI prevention programs.

Practical Implications

Targeted Prevention

Refine primary and secondary injury prevention strategies based on SCI etiology to reduce fatal and nonfatal SCIs.

Healthcare Support

Bolster support for individuals with medical etiologies to improve health and longevity.

Public Health Strategies

Implement public health strategies such as improving motor vehicle safety and reducing alcohol-impaired driving.

Study Limitations

1
Missing data for socioeconomic and health-related variables.
2
Lack of data on co-occurring injuries and quality of healthcare.
3
Exclusion of individuals with severe, life-threatening SCIs at the time of injury.

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