Longitudinal outcomes in spinal cord injury: aging, secondary conditions, and well-being.
OBJECTIVE
To specify the degree to which current age, duration of injury, and neurologic status affect the frequency of secondary health and psychosocial conditions in persons with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI), using both longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis techniques.


METHODS
Prospective longitudinal examination and data collection involving individuals with SCI studied initially at their 5th, 10th, and 15th anniversaries postinjury, and subsequently 5 years later at their 10th, 15th, and 20th anniversaries postinjury.


METHODS
Five Regional Model Spinal Cord Injury Systems.


METHODS
The 439 individuals who meet the inclusion criteria for the National SCI Database and who are enrolled in a longitudinal study of secondary conditions and SCI.


METHODS
Physical and psychosocial status at various times postinjury.


RESULTS
There are different reports of various conditions when analyzing by neurologic groups, duration of injury, and age. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses also demonstrate different patterns of complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The longitudinal method, like cross-sectional research, allows for identification of physical and psychosocial changes soon after they occur. Longitudinal research, however, also makes possible the development of predictive models for various long-term outcomes.
Charlifue
S W
SW
Research Department, Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO 80110, USA.
Weitzenkamp
D A
DA
Whiteneck
G G
GG
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology