A Cross-Sectional Study on Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury
Keywords:
cardiovascular risk factor, spinal cord injury, cross-sectional study, obesityAbstract
Objectives: To describe the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (dyslipidemia, diabetes, central obesity and smoking) and the current management in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Study design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Spinal cord injury rehabilitation clinic of a university hospital.
Subjects: A total of 205 persons with SCI participated in this cross-sectional study between June 2018 and May 2019.
Methods: A self-constructed data collection form was admini-stered via face-to-face interviews. Medical information was extracted from medical records and central obesity was determined by measuring the waist circumference in a supine position, at a point immediately below the lowest rib.
Results: Majority of the participants (91.0%) had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Dyslipidaemia was the most common cardiovascular risk factor (85.4%), followed by central obesity (59.0%), diabetes (20.5%), and smoking (12.2%). This study revealed that up to 44.0% of the study population did not receive any intervention for dyslipidaemia. Participants who used wheelchairs, motorized or manual, as their main mode of mobility, were three times more likely to have low HDL compared with participants who walked (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.3-9.4 and OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.4-7.1 respectively).
Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent among SCI population. Dyslipidaemia was the most common health hazard and approximately one-third of them did not receive any intervention. Users of manual wheelchairs, self-propelled or pushed by others, were three times more likely to have low HDL compared with those who walk.
Keywords: cardiovascular risk factor, spinal cord injury, cross-sectional study, obesity
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