Health-related quality of life in persons with long-standing spinal cord injury.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study of all patients with traumatic SCI admitted to Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Norway between 1961 and 1982.


OBJECTIVE
To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in persons with long-standing traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in Norway.


METHODS
Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Norway.


METHODS
Survey data and clinical examination of 165 persons with traumatic SCI of more than 20 years duration. HRQOL was assessed with the Norwegian 36-item short-form [corrected] (SF-36) Health Survey. The SF-36 results were compared with Norwegian norm data adjusted to age and gender. Differences in HRQOL between subgroups were studied.


RESULTS
The persons with SCI exhibited significantly decreased HRQOL in the subscales for Physical Functioning, Bodily Pain, General Health, Social Functioning [corrected] and Vitality compared to the normal population. There were relatively small differences in HRQOL when comparing persons with paraplegia versus tetraplegia and persons with AIS (ASIA Impairment Scale; ASIA, American Spinal Injury Association) A-C versus D-E. Employed persons reported higher HRQOL compared to unemployed persons. HRQOL of individuals reporting health problems or symptoms was worse than those of individuals reporting no health problems at all.


CONCLUSIONS
HRQOL is decreased in persons with long-standing SCI and especially in persons with comorbidity conditions.
Lidal
I B
IB
Department of Research, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, University of Oslo, Nesoddtangen, Norway. ingeborg.lidal@sunnaas.no
Veenstra
M
M
Hjeltnes
N
N
Biering-Sørensen
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011788:Quality of Life; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors