Coronary and carotid imaging of atherosclerosis and contributing factors in middle-aged people with long-term cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in people aging with spinal cord injury (SCI) and is predominantly caused by atherosclerosis; however, knowledge of atherosclerosis in people with SCI is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To describe coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged people with long-term cervical and upper thoracic SCI using coronary computed tomography angiography, carotid ultrasound, and cardiovascular disease risk factors and to compare with the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with matched controls. SETTING: Outpatient SCI unit in southern Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n = 25) in the Swedish SPinal Cord Injury Study on Cardiopulmonary and Autonomic Impairment (SPICA) (20% women, mean age 58 years, mean time since injury 28 years, injury levels C2-T6, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-C). Non-SCI controls (n = 125; ratio 5:1) from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Presence of coronary atherosclerosis, coronary artery calcium score, carotid plaques, carotid intima media thickness, blood pressure, lipids, Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE), and anthropometry. RESULTS: Coronary and carotid atherosclerotic plaques occurred in 44% of the participants, 67% of the controls exhibited coronary and 59% carotid plaques; odds ratios (OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]): 0.38 (0.13-1.17) and 0.54 (0.22-1.32), respectively. Mean number of segments with coronary atherosclerosis were 1.0 in participants and 2.1 in controls (OR: 0.74 [0.52-1.06]). Coronary artery calcium score > 100 occurred in 4 (18%) of the participants and 23 (21%) of the controls. The participants had significantly lower levels of total and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol and SCORE than the controls. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first comprehensive assessment of atherosclerosis in people with SCI using advanced imaging techniques. The atherosclerotic burden in middle-aged people with long-term cervical and upper thoracic SCI was not increased, whereas SCORE was lower due to lower cholesterol levels. Imaging techniques may be valuable tools for assessment of atherosclerosis in SCI.

Functional and structural impairments of the pulmonary system in middle-aged people with cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To describe functional and structural impairments of the pulmonary system in middle-aged people with cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries (SCI), and compare findings to the general population. To determine if the neurological level of injury (NLI) is related to functional and structural impairments, and if age is related to structural impairments. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with matched controls. Data from the Swedish SPinal Cord Injury Study on Cardiopulmonary and Autonomic Impairment (SPICA). Matched control data were obtained from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS). SETTING: Outpatient SCI unit in southern Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 25 people (20% women, mean age 58 years, mean time since injury 28 years, NLIs C2-T6, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-C). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURES: Lung function was assessed with spirometry, diffusing capacity and impulse oscillometry. Structural assessments were performed with computed tomography. RESULTS: Pulmonary function was generally worse compared to the controls. Structural impairments were common (75% of the participants and 65% of the controls; P = 0.36, NS). NLI was significantly related to some of the functional and structural impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged people with long-term cervical and upper thoracic SCI can have substantial pulmonary functional impairments, whereas structural impairments do not differ considerably from the general population. Further larger and longitudinal studies should focus on the clinical impact of these impairments over time.

[Spinal cord injury rehabilitation]. / Ryggmärgsskada ­ ett ovanligt tillstånd med komplexa behov.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) challenges many aspects of life. Common secondary health conditions are sensorimotor impairments, autonomic dysfunction affecting bowel, bladder, sexual and cardiovascular function, pressure ulcers, pulmonary dysfunction, pain and psychological distress. Primary rehabilitation and lifelong follow-up from a specialized interdisciplinary rehabilitation team is needed to attain and maintain maximum functioning and participation in all aspects of life, and to reduce the risk of complications in the acute and chronic phases after SCI. Most of the almost 300 people who sustain a SCI in Sweden each year can today be expected to live long lives. However, the growing population of people aging with long-term SCI and the increasing number of older adults sustaining an SCI are major challenges for the health care system.  Important research areas are improved neurological diagnostics, regenerative research and long-term consequences of aging with SCI.

The Swedish SPinal Cord Injury Study on Cardiopulmonary and Autonomic Impairment: Methodology, Cohort Demographics, and Initial Results.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to present the methodology, cohort demographics, and initial results of the Swedish SPinal Cord Injury Study on Cardiopulmonary and Autonomic Impairment (SPICA). DESIGN: The SPICA is based on the Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study, a study on cardiopulmonary diseases in a cohort of 30,000 people. The assessments in the SPICA cover the structure and function of the cardiopulmonary and autonomic systems using bioimaging and functional analyses, together with a study-specific questionnaire and generic and spinal cord injury-specific assessment tools. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age 50-65 yrs, traumatic spinal cord injury of 5 yrs or more, and injury levels C1-T6, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-C. RESULTS: Of 38 potential participants, 25 comprised the final sample (20% women, mean age 58 yrs, mean time since injury 28 yrs). Eight percent had sustained a cardiovascular event, and 72% were classified as a high risk for cardiovascular disease. Asthma was previously diagnosed in only 8%, and none had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. CONCLUSIONS: The risk for cardiovascular disease in people with severe high-level spinal cord injury is a major clinical concern. Forthcoming studies in the SPICA will provide new knowledge of cardiopulmonary health in this cohort, which can guide future research and be used to develop long-term management.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Older Adults With Long-Term Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) now live longer, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors amenable to intervention are therefore needed to support their healthy aging. OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors among older adults with long-term SCI and investigate the association with sociodemographics and injury characteristics. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive cohort study. SETTING: Home settings. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 123 individuals (71% men, injury levels C1-L5, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-D), mean age 63 years, mean time since injury 24 years. METHODS: Data from the Swedish Aging with Spinal Cord Injury Study (SASCIS), collected through interviews and assessments during home visits and from medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and blood lipids, and data on cardiovascular comorbidity and tobacco use. RESULTS: One third had a previous diagnosis of hypertension, and 55% presented with a blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg at the time of assessment. Sixteen percent had a history of diabetes and in 15% fasting glucose levels were ≥ 7 mmol/L. Dyslipidemia was present in 76%, whereas 16% had prediagnosed dyslipidemia. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27 kg/m2 and mean waist circumference was 101 cm. When SCI-adjusted BMI cut-off values were used, 93% were considered overweight (BMI ≥22 kg/m2 ), and 60% had a waist circumference associated with cardiometabolic risk. A total of 16% smoked regularly. The median number of cardiovascular risk factors was 3. No significant associations were found between the total number of risk factors and sociodemographics and injury characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The high occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors among older adults with long-term SCI can pose additional consequences to their health. Regular assessments and interventions targeting cardiovascular risk in this population are therefore warranted. Further research is needed to identify modifiable factors associated with their risk profile. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.