Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) led a collaborative research effort with the UAB Department of Health Services Administration and UAB School of Health Professions Research Collaborative to evaluate the health care needs of people aging with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Using data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Database managed by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), researchers looked at the demographic information, severity of their injury, employment status, and the health conditions of people living with TSCI between 2015 and 2019.
The lead author of the publication was Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., PM&R Professor and Vice Chair of Research. She also serves as the Director of NSCISC and looks to understand emerging trends. “We have a growing number of people aging with traumatic spinal cord injury,” says Chen. “This study is one step to building insight into their health care and social support needs and ways we might improve the information and resources available to understand and meet those needs,” explains Chen.
The study reveals two medical trends during the first year after injury. First, people with TSCI are more likely to experience depression in their first year, and they are more likely to be re-admitted to the hospital for various health problems in the first year.
Beyond the first year, pain and urinary tract infection are ongoing problems for people with TSCI. Although pressure injuries are always a concern, they become more of a common problem for those living with TSCI for at least 20 years and longer.
The study also looks at issues with life satisfaction. Employment is one area of note. It remains much lower among people with TSCI when compared to the general population with similar education levels.
Although the study offers much more insight into people aging with TSCI, Dr. Chen offers a couple of key takeaways. “I think we see with this study a need to find ways to get primary care providers and geriatricians more involved in the continuity of care for people with traumatic spinal cord injury. We also see a need to find ways to promote employment. Addressing these areas can improving healthy aging, social participation, and quality of life quality of life for people with traumatic spinal cord injury,” adds Chen.
This study was funded in part by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research and published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.