Paraplegia: a postal survey of morbidity trends in India.
METHODS
Postal survey from August 2004 to May 2006.


OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the morbidity trends in individuals with paraplegia in India and to find its association with demographic characteristics.


METHODS
India.


METHODS
The questionnaire was mailed to the identified individuals (n=600) whose addresses were obtained from the medical records section of our hospital and by contacting non-government organizations (NGOs), working for individuals with paraplegia in various cities. The causes of morbidities surveyed were respiratory complications, use of catheter, pressure sores, spasticity, postural hypotension, pain and fractures. Data were analysed using nonparametric test of association (Goodman Kruskal Tau).


RESULTS
A total of 276 (46%) individuals responded. Of all the morbidities studied, pain was the leading cause (57.2%) followed by spasticity (39.1%), pressure sore (28.3%), postural hypotension (10.1%), respiratory complications, and fractures (5.8%). We found significant associations between various morbidities and demographics and between morbidities themselves.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common cause for morbidity was pain. Ambulation reduced the incidence of secondary complications.
Gupta
N
N
Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Solomon
J
J
Raja
K
K
D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D003710:Demography; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007194:India; D009017:Morbidity; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011177:Postal Service; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires