Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of all patients with traumatic SCI admitted to Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Norway between 1961 and 1982.
OBJECTIVES: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in persons with long-standing traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in Norway.
SETTING: Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Norway.
METHODS: Survey data and clinical examination of 165 persons with traumatic SCI of more than 20 years duration. HRQOL was assessed with the Norwegian 36-item short-form [corrected] (SF-36) Health Survey. The SF-36 results were compared with Norwegian norm data adjusted to age and gender. Differences in HRQOL between subgroups were studied.
RESULTS: The persons with SCI exhibited significantly decreased HRQOL in the subscales for Physical Functioning, Bodily Pain, General Health, Social Functioning [corrected] and Vitality compared to the normal population. There were relatively small differences in HRQOL when comparing persons with paraplegia versus tetraplegia and persons with AIS (ASIA Impairment Scale; ASIA, American Spinal Injury Association) A-C versus D-E. Employed persons reported higher HRQOL compared to unemployed persons. HRQOL of individuals reporting health problems or symptoms was worse than those of individuals reporting no health problems at all.
CONCLUSION: HRQOL is decreased in persons with long-standing SCI and especially in persons with comorbidity conditions.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Spinal Cord |
| Vol/bind | 46 |
| Udgave nummer | 11 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 710-5 |
| Antal sider | 6 |
| ISSN | 1362-4393 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - nov. 2008 |