Health-related quality of life after spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in spinal-cord-injured adults living in Quebec (Canada).


METHODS
Subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) all of whom were members of the Quebec Paraplegic Association who gave their consent to participate completed the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36); sociodemographic and medical data were also solicited.


RESULTS
Five hundred and eighty-seven participants were studied. The findings show a significant decrease in the score of the eight health concepts as measured by the SF-36 as well as that of the physical component summary measure (p<0.05). Analysing the various medical and sociodemographic variables with the eight scales of the SF-36 indicate that younger age, employment and the lack of hospitalization in the previous year were associated with a better quality of life. Mid- and long-term medical complications related to a spinal cord lesion and the impact of ageing are discussed briefly.


CONCLUSIONS
HRQOL is decreased in the studied population with an SCI.
Leduc
Bernard E
BE
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Institut de réadaptation de Montréal, Canada. bnleduc@citenet.net
Lepage
Yves
Y
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires