In a significant Swiss study examining the impact of spinal cord injuries on cardiometabolic health, researchers identified important differences in the health trajectories of individuals with traumatic versus non-traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Conducted as part of the multicenter Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort (SwiSCI) study, the investigation sought to understand how these health conditions evolve during initial rehabilitation periods. This comparison reveals critical insights that could influence future healthcare strategies.
The study, which excluded individuals with a history of cardiovascular diseases to maintain homogenous baseline profiles, focused on changes in cardiometabolic disease (CMD) factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes. The research comprised 530 participants, a majority of whom were male, with a median rehabilitation duration of 4.4 months.
Findings showed that individuals suffering from non-traumatic SCI presented with more adverse CMD profiles upon admission for rehabilitation. Specifically, they displayed higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity compared to those with traumatic SCIs. Over the course of rehabilitation, both groups experienced an increase in total cholesterol and HDL-C (the “good” cholesterol), with a notable decrease in fasting glucose levels.
Source: Nature.com