title: Prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in people with long-term spinal cord injury living in the Netherlands.
abstract: To describe the prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in people with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the prevalence of high blood pressure and/or the use of antihypertensive drugs with the prevalence in the Dutch general population.
  
  
  
  Multicentre cross-sectional study (N = 282). Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of ≥140 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of ≥90 mmHg after ≥2 blood pressure measurements during ≥2 doctor visits. High blood pressure was defined as a single measurement of a SBP of ≥140 mmHg and/or a DBP of ≥90 mmHg.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of hypertension was 21.5%. Significant predictors were: lesion level below C8 (T1-T6: OR =6.4, T7-L5: OR =10.1), history of hypercholesterolemia (OR =4.8), longer time since injury (OR =1.1), higher age (OR =1.1). The prevalence of high blood pressure and/or the use of antihypertensive drugs was higher in men (T1-T6 lesion: 48%; T7-L5 lesion: 57%) and women (T1-T6 lesion: 48%; T7-L5 lesion: 25%) with a SCI below C8 compared to Dutch able-bodied men (31%) and women (18%).
  
  
  
  High blood pressure is common in people with SCI. Screening for hypertension during annual checkups is recommended, especially in those with a SCI below C8. Implications for Rehabilitation High blood pressure is common in people with long-term SCI living in the Netherlands and its prevalence is higher in both men and women with a spinal cord lesion level below C8 compared with the age-matched Dutch general population. It is recommended to screen for hypertension during annual checkups in people with SCI, especially in those with a higher risk of developing hypertension, e.g. those with a spinal cord lesion level below C8 and an age of ≥45 years or a time since injury of ≥20 years. When a high blood pressure is measured in people with SCI, they should receive a further assessment of the blood pressure according to the available guidelines for the general population, including ambulatory 24 h-blood pressure monitoring.
authors.affiliation: a Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacinthe J E
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Adriaansen
authors.affiliation: a Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Douma-Haan
authors.affiliation: a Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Floris W A
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: van Asbeck
authors.affiliation: a Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.|b Spinal Cord Injury Department , De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Casper F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: van Koppenhagen
authors.affiliation: c Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center| Reade , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.|d University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences , Groningen , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.affiliation: c Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center| Reade , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Christof A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.affiliation: a Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johanna M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Visser-Meily
authors.affiliation: a Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.|e University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Rehabilitation , Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Groningen , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Blood pressure; cardiovascular disease; long-term care; spinal cord injuries