Incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury in Denmark, 1990–2012: a hospital-based study

Abstract

Study design: Hospital-based incidence study. Objectives: To assess the incidence of traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCIs) and TSCI incidence trends in relation to cause, age, gender, level and completeness of injury. Setting: Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark. Methods: We reviewed medical records of TSCI patients admitted between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2012. Proportions, incidence rates and incidence rate ratios were calculated for five time periods; 1990-94, 1995-99, 2000-04, 2005-09 and 2010-12, and were stratified on age, gender, cause, level and completeness of TSCI. TSCI incidence was calculated as the number of new cases divided by person-years at risk. Results: Included were 691 patients (males 81.9%). Within the study period, median age at time of injury rose from 29.0 to 47.5 years. The overall annual TSCI incidence during the study period 1990-94 to 2010-12 was 10.2 per million person-years at risk and varied from 8.3 to 11.8. The proportion of transport-related injuries fell from 56.9% in the first to 36.8% in the most recent time period. Fall-related injuries rose from 11.1 to 35.5%. The proportion of incomplete tetraplegia increased from 32.0% in the first to 40.5% in the last time period. Conclusions: The overall TSCI incidence is low and remained stable from 1990 to 2012. The proportion of transport-related injuries fell, while age at time of injury and proportion of fall-related injuries and proportion with incomplete tetraplegia all increased.

Epidemiology of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Ireland, 2010–2015

“…We cite median age at onset for the purposes of this comparison – this was 37 years in 2000 [2] and was 49 years during 2010–2015. Our findings of an apparent increasing age at TSCI onset are similar to the findings reported in Western Denmark – mean age at onset was 47.5 years for 2010–2012 [13], Western ­Norway – mean age of onset was 48.9 years for 1997–2001 [16] and Scotland – mean age was 52.6 years for the period 2009–2013 [14]. …”

“…It is most appropriate that we compare this study with other retrospective studies, but we should emphasize that the time periods of data collection are not exactly the same in all studies. Compared to the most recent time periods reported in other studies, the mean crude incidence rate of 12.6 per million, as reported by our study, is greater than that reported in Western Denmark, 8.3 per million in the 2010–2012 period [13] but less than Scotland, 17 per million for 2009–2013 [14] or Iceland, 33.5 per million during 2005 to 2009 [15]. …”

“…Our dataset does not extend as far retrospectively as that in Western Denmark [13] or Western Norway [16], to allow us to examine in the same way the incidence by gender, aetiology and age at injury, level/AIS. However, we did find that people sustaining TSCI from a fall were significantly older than those who had a transport incident and those with incomplete tetraplegia were also older than those with all other injury levels/AIS.…”

Demographic Profile of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): A Hospital-based Prospective study in Bangladesh

“…It is interesting that the number of transport-related injuries is stable or decreasing in developed countries (Cripps et al, 2014) due to prevention strategies, whereas fall-related injuries are increasing (van den Berg et al, 2010;Noe, 2015) over time due mainly to ageing problems.…”

The influence of clarification and threats on life situation: patients’ experiences 1 year after TSCI

“…The patients' experiences are considered to form an appropriate data source in ensuring sufficient richness for the present analysis. 30 In terms of age, gender, level and completeness of injury the participants reflect the epidemiological data on TSCI in Denmark, 31 further they had different background and education. We used a semi-structured interview guide with open questions, which invited the patients to address positive as well negative aspect of returning home.…”