FEV1 and FVC and systemic inflammation in a spinal cord injury cohort

Jaime E Hart, Rebekah Goldstein, Palak Walia, Merilee Teylan, Antonio Lazzari, Carlos G Tun, Eric Garshick, Jaime E Hart, Rebekah Goldstein, Palak Walia, Merilee Teylan, Antonio Lazzari, Carlos G Tun, Eric Garshick

Abstract

Background: Systemic inflammation has been associated with reduced pulmonary function in individuals with and without chronic medical conditions. Individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) have clinical characteristics that promote systemic inflammation and also have reduced pulmonary function. We sought to assess the associations between biomarkers of systemic inflammation with pulmonary function in a chronic SCI cohort, adjusting for other potential confounding factors.

Methods: Participants (n = 311) provided a blood sample, completed a respiratory health questionnaire, and underwent spirometry. Linear regression methods were used to assess cross-sectional associations between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC.

Results: There were statistically significant inverse relationships between plasma CRP and IL-6 assessed in quartiles or continuously with FEV1 and FVC. In fully adjusted models, each interquartile range (5.91 mg/L) increase in CRP was associated with a significant decrease in FEV1 (-55.85 ml; 95% CI: -89.21, -22.49) and decrease in FVC (-65.50 ml; 95% CI: -106.61, -24.60). There were similar significant findings for IL-6. There were no statistically significant associations observed with FEV1/FVC.

Conclusion: Plasma CRP and IL-6 in individuals with chronic SCI are inversely associated with FEV1 and FVC, independent of SCI level and severity of injury, BMI, and other covariates. This finding suggests that systemic inflammation associated with chronic SCI may contribute to reduced pulmonary function.

Keywords: CRP; Chronic spinal cord injury; Il-6; Pulmonary function; Systemic inflammation.

Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The present study was approved by a local institutional review board of Boston Veteran Affairs Hospital (IRB No. 2232, 2417, 2751). Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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