Lifestyle risks for three disease outcomes in spinal cord injury

Abstract

With respect to the three morbidity outcomes in this study, cigarette smoking is the most damaging lifestyle behaviour in the spinal cord-injured population. Attention and resources should be directed towards SCI-specific smoking prevention and cessation programmes to prevent the development and exacerbation of chronic diseases in this unique population. Further research is needed to fully understand the associations between lifestyle and chronic diseases in the SCI population.

Effect of Exercise on Disorders of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism in Adults With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Systematic Review of the Evidence

“…There were 12 studies that reported carbohydrate-related outcomes (9,10,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35) (Table 1) and 15 that reported lipid-related outcomes (9,10,26,27,30,(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44) (Table 2). Only 1 study included cardiovascular morbidity as an endpoint (Table 2), and this was assessed using a survey instrument with variable levels of sensitivity and specificity when tested in able-bodied populations (45).…”

“…In the only study reporting cardiovascular outcomes, no association was observed between physical activity levels and self-reported cardiovascular morbidity (45). This was a small, cross-sectional study involving 97 individuals with SCI and was not adequately designed to assess these outcomes.…”

“…There were 6 survey studies that assessed the association between self-reported physical activity and lipid measures (9,10,35,(41)(42)(43). One survey examined the association between physical activity and cardiovascular morbidity, with both variables measured using a self-report survey instrument (45). One study, categorized as ''other,'' examined the effects of a weight management training program, including an exerciserelated curriculum, on lipid outcomes (44).…”

Prognostic Models for Physical Capacity at Discharge and 1 Year Postdischarge From Rehabilitation in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

“…A predictive effect of alcohol was not established in our multivariate models and the influence of alcohol intake remains undetermined. 41 Another study 42 showed that alcohol use after SCI was similar to that of the able-bodied population, but revealed an increased incidence in alcohol abuse, which may negatively affect health. Therefore, future research should focus on a more detailed investigation of the effect of alcohol use and abuse after SCI.…”

“…23,41 In the able-bodied population, moderate alcohol consumption is suggested to be protective of cardiovascular disease, whereas the consumption of large quantities will have adverse health effects. A predictive effect of alcohol was not established in our multivariate models and the influence of alcohol intake remains undetermined.…”