A Canada-wide survey of chronic respiratory disease and spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between chronic respiratory diseases (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and spinal cord injury (SCI) in a large representative sample.


METHODS
Data were compiled from more than 60,000 individuals from the 2010 cycle of the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine this relationship, adjusting for confounders, and using probability weighting to account for the CCHS sampling method.


RESULTS
After adjusting for age, sex, and smoking status, SCI was associated with a significant increased odds of asthma (adjusted odds ratio = 1.59 [95% confidence interval 1.11, 2.26]; p < 0.05) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.87 [1.20, 2.91]; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These heightened odds highlight the exigent need for targeted interventions and prevention strategies for respiratory health among individuals with SCI.
From the School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine (J.J.C.), International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (J.J.C., J.K.K., J.F.B.), and School of Kinesiology (J.K.K.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Simon Fraser University (F.M.W.), Burnaby; and British Columbia Institute of Technology (J.F.B.), Burnaby, Canada. craggj@interchange.ubc.ca.
Jacquelyn J
JJ
Cragg
From the School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine (J.J.C.), International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (J.J.C., J.K.K., J.F.B.), and School of Kinesiology (J.K.K.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Simon Fraser University (F.M.W.), Burnaby; and British Columbia Institute of Technology (J.F.B.), Burnaby, Canada.
Freda M
FM
Warner
From the School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine (J.J.C.), International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (J.J.C., J.K.K., J.F.B.), and School of Kinesiology (J.K.K.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Simon Fraser University (F.M.W.), Burnaby; and British Columbia Institute of Technology (J.F.B.), Burnaby, Canada.
John K
JK
Kramer
From the School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine (J.J.C.), International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (J.J.C., J.K.K., J.F.B.), and School of Kinesiology (J.K.K.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Simon Fraser University (F.M.W.), Burnaby; and British Columbia Institute of Technology (J.F.B.), Burnaby, Canada.
Jaimie F
JF
Borisoff
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*