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
Udgivelsesdato: 2008/11
Udgivelsesdato: 2008/11
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Spinal Cord |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Pages (from-to) | 710-715 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISSN | 1362-4393 |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |