Burden of Cardiovascular Risk in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury and Its Association With Rehabilitation Outcomes Results From the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort

Objectives: The aims of the study are to determine the cardiovascular risk burden rehabilitation discharge and to explore the association between recovery during rehabilitation and cardiovascular disease risk profile. Methods: We included adults without cardiovascular disease admitted for rehabilitation. We evaluated rehabilitation outcomes on admission and discharge. Cardiovascular disease risk profile was assessed by Framingham risk score, high-density lipoprotein, and fasting glucose level. Results: We analyzed data from 706 participants (69.6% men) with a median age of 53.5 yrs. The median time since injury was 14 days, and the admission length was 5.2 months. Majority had paraplegia (53.3%) and motor incomplete injury (53.7%). One third of the cohort had high cardiovascular risk profile before discharge. At discharge, poorer anthropometric measures were associated with higher Framingham risk score and lower high-density lipoprotein levels. Individuals with higher forced vital capacity (>2.72 l) and peak expiratory flow (>3.4 l/min) had 0.16 mmol/l and 0.14 mmol/l higher high-density lipoprotein compared with those with lower respiratory function, respectively. Individuals with higher mobility score (>12.5) and functional independence score (>74) had 0.21 and 0.18 mmol/l higher high-density lipoprotein compared with those with lower scores. Conclusions: There is high cardiometabolic syndrome burden and cardiovascular disease risk profile upon rehabilitation discharge. Higher respiratory function, mobility, and overall independence were associated with better cardiovascular disease risk profile, although with study design limitations and short follow-up. Future studies should explore whether rehabilitation outcomes could be used to prioritize screening.