Comorbidity in spinal cord injury in Iran: A narrative review

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide each year. In Iran, an estimated 9 out of every 100,000 individuals experience traumatic SCI occurrences. Long-term disabilities and comorbidities stemming from SCI often necessitate multiple therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the morbidity in Iranian SCI patients. In this study, a four-step process was used to select, extract, analyze, and synthesize relevant literature. The search covered 750 records from five databases, resulting in 25 articles included in the review. These articles, published between 2000 and 2023, utilized cross-sectional, qualitative, or cohort designs. The findings explored the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of comorbidities associated with SCI, categorized into four themes: physical, sexual, psychological, and metabolic morbidity. Physical morbidity refers to medical conditions or complications affecting body functions or structures in SCI patients. The most frequently reported cases include pressure ulcers, pain, osteoporosis, fractures, impaired pulmonary function, renal failure, and obesity. Metabolic morbidity includes conditions such as vitamin D deficiency and cardiometabolic risk factors. Psychological morbidity encompasses depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders. Sexual morbidity refers to conditions or complications affecting the sexual function or satisfaction of SCI patients. This narrative literature review offers a comprehensive examination of various aspects of SCI in Iranian patients. The review identifies numerous challenges and difficulties faced by SCI patients while also highlighting protective factors that can improve their well-being. Additionally, the review acknowledges gaps and limitations within the current literature and suggests possible avenues for future research.