Age and spinal cord injury: an emphasis on outcomes among the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
Determine the unique effects of age across a variety of outcome domains following spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Cross-sectional; 6132 individuals with traumatic onset SCI in the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) database.


METHODS
Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), and the Short Form-12 (SF-12).


RESULTS
Older age was most consistently associated with decreased self-reported outcomes across most domains assessed. More specifically, a significant linear decline with age was found for functional independence (FIM), overall life satisfaction (SWLS), perceived physical health (SF-12 physical health), and overall handicap (CHART-total score), particularly in the areas of physical independence, mobility, occupational functioning, and social integration (CHART subscales). However, regression analyses, controlling for numerous demographic and medical characteristics, indicated that the amount of unique variance that could be specifically attributed to age was relatively small. Age was unrelated to self-reported mental health (SF-12 mental health subscale) and economic functioning (CHART-economic self-sufficiency subscale). Pain interference in day-to-day activities (ie, a single item from SF-12) significantly increased with age.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a small but consistent decline with age in several outcome domains following SCI. Follow-up longitudinal studies should help tease a part possible cohort effects from the effects of age.
Putzke
John David
JD
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Barrett
John J
JJ
Richards
J Scott
JS
DeVivo
Michael J
MJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*