The effect of preexisting hypertension on early neurologic results of patients with an acute spinal cord injury.
METHODS
Retrospective case-control.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize changes in American Spinal Injury Association Motor Score (AMS) in patients treated with relative hypertension (HTN) (mean arterial pressure (MAP) > 85 mm Hg for 5 days) with and without preexisting HTN.


METHODS
A regional spinal cord injury (SCI) center in Pennsylvania, United States.


METHODS
All patients with an acute SCI who were treated with induced HTN (MAP goal above 85) in the intensive care unit (ICU) for at least 5 days were identified. Patients were stratified based on the presence of preexisting HTN, and the change in the AMS between admission and day 5 was determined. Predictors of outcome were identified using correlation analysis and multiple linear regression.


RESULTS
Ninety-two patients met inclusion criteria of which 22 had a previous history of HTN. HTN was a predictor of poor early outcome. Patients with HTN had an average decline in their AMS of 7.6, compared with an average decrease of only 0.6 in the AMS of patients without HTN (P=0.04). HTN had no effect (P>0.05) on other in-hospital variables including length of stay, length of stay in the ICU, complications or mortality. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that diabetes, coronary artery disease and pulmonary disease had no effect on the change in AMS.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic HTN is an independent risk factor for poor early neurologic recovery in patients treated with relative HTN for an acute SCI. This is independent of age and other comorbidities.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
C K
CK
Kepler
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
G D
GD
Schroeder
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
N D
ND
Martin
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
A R
AR
Vaccaro
Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
M
M
Cohen
Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
M S
MS
Weinstein
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States