Epidemiology of Spinal Cord Injury and Associated Mortality, Past and Present. Is There a Difference?
Publication/Presentation Date
12-1-2024
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The demographics of the population with spinal cord injury (SCI) have been dynamic over time, especially as a result of aging. This study investigated the patterns of SCI admissions by age in the United States over the past decade.
METHODS: Data were evaluated (2010-2021), from the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems records. Patients were compared based on age (< 70 and ≥70 years), analysis of mortality, neurologic level of injury, neurologic improvement, mortality by American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, and neurologic level of injury. Patients older than 70 years were defined as elderly.
RESULTS: The mean age of the 8137 patients reviewed was 42.6 years (range, 15-88 years). The mean admission rate per year was 678 (range, 378-758). For the elderly versus the younger cohort, the incidence of falls decreased by 5% versus 3.3%, vehicle accidents increased by 3% versus 14%, high tetraplegia increased by 14.7% versus 22.5%, and low tetraplegia decreased by 12% versus 5.7%. In the elderly, ASIA grades A, B, and C decreased significantly, whereas ASIA grade D increased by 23.8%. In the younger cohort, ASIA grade A and B injuries decreased, whereas grades C and D increased, all < 5%. Overall, 32.1% of those with ASIA grade A and 68% with ASIA grade B injuries improved within 1-2 years after injury. In-hospital and 1-year mortality decreased by 14.5% and 35.4%, respectively, in the elderly.
CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of SCI increased. High cervical and incomplete injuries increased, whereas complete SCIs declined. In-hospital and 1-year mortality decreased. There was recovery in select cases of complete SCIs within 1 year.
Volume
192
First Page
494
Last Page
494
ISSN
1878-8769
Published In/Presented At
Gebeyehu, T. F., Mong, E. R., Thalheimer, S., Vaccaro, A. R., & Harrop, J. (2024). Epidemiology of Spinal Cord Injury and Associated Mortality, Past and Present. Is There a Difference?. World neurosurgery, 192, e494–e505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2024.10.009
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
39414135
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article