Evaluation of selected laboratory components of a comprehensive periodic health evaluation for veterans with spinal cord injury and disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate selected laboratory components of a comprehensive periodic health evaluation program for patients with spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D).


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
A Department of Veterans Affairs spinal cord injury center.


METHODS
Community-dwelling male veterans with SCI/D (N=350).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Proportion of laboratory tests that resulted in new diagnoses (diagnostic yield) and proportion of laboratory tests that resulted in changes in management (therapeutic yield).


RESULTS
Although abnormality rates for many routine laboratory tests were high (up to 31.5%), diagnostic and therapeutic yields were low (<1.5%), with the exception of glucose (therapeutic yield, 3.4%) and lipid tests (up to a 4.1% diagnostic and 15.2% therapeutic yield).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data revealed that diagnostic and therapeutic yields for many laboratory components of the annual PHE program for veterans with SCI/D were low, consistent with findings in the general ambulatory population. Further data collection, particularly prospective longitudinal data, may help optimize the selection and frequency of laboratory tests performed as part of this program.
Choi
Howard
H
Spinal Cord Injury Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, and Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School/Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. howard.choi@mssm.edu
Binder
David S
DS
Oropilla
Marjorie L
ML
Bernotus
Ervin E
EE
Konya
Deniz
D
Nee
Maura A
MA
Tammaro
Elizabeth A
EA
Sabharwal
Sunil
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood*; D014728:Veterans