title: Impaired respiratory function and associations with health-related quality of life in people with spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  Follow-up measurement in a multicenter prospective cohort study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence of impaired respiratory function (pulmonary function and perceived respiratory function), the incidence of respiratory infection and the associations among these parameters in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) 5 years after initial inpatient rehabilitation. Second, we assessed associations between respiratory function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight rehabilitation centers with specialized SCI units in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements were performed 5 years after discharge of inpatient rehabilitation. Pulmonary function was determined by forced vital capacity (FVC) and perceived respiratory function by self-reported cough strength and dyspnea. HRQOL was measured using the Sickness Impact Profile 68 and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred forty-seven people with SCI participated. Of this sample, 30.9% had impaired FVC, 35.9% poor or moderate cough strength, 18.4% dyspnea at rest and 29.0% dyspnea during activity. In the year before the measurements, 8.9% had had respiratory infection. FVC was associated with cough strength, but not with dyspnea. All respiratory function parameters were associated with social functioning, whereas other HRQOL domains were associated with dyspnea only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five years after initial inpatient rehabilitation, impaired respiratory function and respiratory infection were common in people with SCI. More severely impaired respiratory function was associated with lower HRQOL.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development.
authors.affiliation: Department of SCI Medicine and Trauma Rehabilitation, Rijndam Rehabilitation Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Haisma
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Stam
authors.affiliation: Department of SCI Medicine and Trauma Rehabilitation, Rijndam Rehabilitation Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bergen
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J B J
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bussmann
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003371:Cough; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D057566:Self Report; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult