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. 2023 Jan 12:55:jrm00353.
doi: 10.2340/jrm.v54.4468.

Age at Onset of Spinal Cord Injury is Associated with Increased Inpatient Care Needs, Reduced Independence at Discharge and a Higher Risk of Institutionalization after Primary Inpatient Rehabilitation

Patricia Keusen  1 , Thierry Vuilliomenet  2 , Manuela Friedli  3 , Mario Widmer  4
Affiliations

Age at Onset of Spinal Cord Injury is Associated with Increased Inpatient Care Needs, Reduced Independence at Discharge and a Higher Risk of Institutionalization after Primary Inpatient Rehabilitation

Patricia Keusen et al. J Rehabil Med. .

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the influence of age at onset of spinal cord injury on length of stay, inpatient therapy and nursing hours, independence at discharge and risk of institutionalization.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Participants: A total of 250 patients with a newly acquired traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury undergoing primary inpatient rehabilitation in a Swiss spinal cord injury specialized clinic between 2017 and 2019.

Methods: Multiple regression analysis was used to determine if age, in addition to clinical characteristics (co-morbidities, secondary complications and spinal cord injury severity), affects inpatient rehabilitation parameters (length of stay, daily nursing hours and daily therapy hours), independence at discharge (Spinal Cord Independence Measure III) and place of discharge (private residence vs institution).

Results: Chronological age correlated with the number of co-morbidities and secondary complications. Older age was associated with increased daily nursing care and reduced independence at discharge. However, both were also influenced by co-morbidities, secondary complications and severity of spinal cord injury. Length of stay and daily therapy hours were age-independent. Odds for institutionalization after discharge increased significantly, by 1.03-fold per year of age.

Conclusion: Age at onset of spinal cord injury predicted inpatient nursing care, independence at discharge and the risk of institutionalization after primary inpatient rehabilitation. Co-morbidities, secondary complications and severity of spinal cord injury were also important influencing factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Chart of study population selection in this retrospective cohort study. SCI: spinal cord injury; SCIM III: Spinal Cord Independence Measure III; ISNCSCI: International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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