Long-term complications following spinal cord injury and aging

Purpose
The study presents complications following spinal cord injury (SCI) in relation to aging.

Views
It is estimated that there are approximately 6 million SCI patients in the world who are struggling with disabilities of the locomotor system of a paraplegic or tetraplegic nature. The effects of aging in a person with SCI are due to age factors related to abnormal health behavior, environmental impact, and the presence of comorbidities and complications. SCI entails numerous complications, the most common including infections of the urinary and respiratory systems, the formation of pressure ulcers, cardiovascular disorders, sleep disorders, depression, muscle atrophy and osteoporosis. In patients who have suffered a SCI, it was found that age-related changes occur as early as 15 years following the injury, much more often than in the healthy population. The incidence of cardiovascular disease, for example, is 200% higher in people after a SCI than in the general population. It should be emphasized that SCI does occur within the young population, although recently there has been a significant increase in SCI in patients over 65, who as an age group are increasingly fit, and get involved in accidents.

Conclusions
The complications of SCI affect the patient’s independence and limit his or her activity and functioning in social, professional and personal life. All this implies an assessment of the life quality of patients after a SCI. Also, the prolonged period of a patient’s lack of independence resulting from osteoporosis, sarcopenia or cardiovascular diseases significantly increases the financial burden on the health and social care system.