Prevalence of comorbidities and secondary health conditions among the Finnish population with spinal cord injury

Susanna Tallqvist, Anna-Maija Kauppila, Aki Vainionpää, Eerika Koskinen, Paula Bergman, Heidi Anttila, Harri Hämäläinen, Anni Täckman, Mauri Kallinen, Jari Arokoski, Sinikka Hiekkala, Susanna Tallqvist, Anna-Maija Kauppila, Aki Vainionpää, Eerika Koskinen, Paula Bergman, Heidi Anttila, Harri Hämäläinen, Anni Täckman, Mauri Kallinen, Jari Arokoski, Sinikka Hiekkala

Abstract

Study design: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To explore the prevalence of comorbidities, secondary health conditions (SHCs), and multimorbidity in the Finnish population with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: The data were collected from the Finnish Spinal Cord Injury Study (FinSCI). Participants were identified from three SCI outpatient clinics responsible for the lifelong follow-up of persons with SCI in Finland, (n = 884 participants, response rate; 50%).

Methods: The FinSCI-questionnaire included a question from the National Study of Health, Well-being, and Service (FinSote) for screening 12 comorbidities. The reference data of the general population for that question were received from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. The Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Condition Scale (SCI-SCS) was used to screen 16 SHCs. The data were analysed with univariate testing and multivariable negative binomial regression modelling.

Results: The most common comorbidities were high blood pressure/hypertension (38%), back problems (28%), and high cholesterol (22%). The most common SHCs were joint and muscle pain (81%), muscle spasms (74%), chronic pain (71%), and bowel problems (71%). The prevalence of comorbidities was highest among persons aged ≥76 years (mean; 2.0; scale range; 0-12). The prevalence of SHCs was highest in the severity of SCI group C1-4 AIS A, B, and C (mean; 8.9; scale range; 0-16).

Conclusions: Further research on geriatrics in SCI, non-traumatic SCI, and knowledge of the needs of persons with cervical lesion AIS A, B, or C is required, due to the fact that the prevalence of multimorbidity is high in these groups.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

© 2021. The Author(s).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence of comorbidities (percentage with 95% confidence interval) diagnosed or treated by a physician during the last 12 months in the Finnish Spinal Cord Injury study (884 participants) and the reference population (Ref.).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence of secondary health conditions (percentage with 95% confidence interval) in the Finnish Spinal Cord Injury study (884 participants).

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Source: PubMed

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