Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

TL;DR

This study found that 42% of spinal cord injury patients had metabolic syndrome, which was more common in those with longer injury duration and paraplegia.

Contribution

The study provides new prevalence data on metabolic syndrome in spinal cord injury patients and identifies key clinical correlations.

Findings

42% of spinal cord injury patients met criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Paraplegic patients had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (50%) compared to tetraplegic patients (14%).

Metabolic syndrome was associated with longer injury duration and higher body fat.

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and its correlation with clinical parameters.

Methods: This was a comprehensive assessment involving 100 inpatient SCI rehabilitation participants from January 2010 to December 2011. Demographic details, disease duration, and neurological evaluations following the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) criteria were recorded. Diagnosis of MetS adhered to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Measurements including height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and body fat percentages were taken using standardized methodologies. Biochemical analyses involved fasting blood samples for glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Functional evaluations utilized the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for assessing daily living activities and the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI) to evaluate ambulation status.

Results: A total of 42 (42%) patients had MetS. The MetS group had longer disease duration (p=0.007). Female patients showed lower waist circumference, body fat, FIM and WISCI scores, and BMI compared to male patients (p=0.01, 0.00, 0.03, 0.04, 0.04, respectively). MetS varied between tetraplegic 14% (n=3) and paraplegic patients 50% (n=39) (p=0.0059), with distinct differences in waist circumference, body fat, FIM and WISCI scores, and BMI (p=0.04, 0.00, 0.00, 0.01, 0.01, respectively). ASIA scores didn't significantly relate to MetS. While body weight differed in MetS (p < 0.0001), no associations were found with FIM and WISCI scores, height, or BMI. Patients with MetS had higher body fat (p = 0.018), but no strong links with FIM or WISCI scores (p = 0.077, 0.275, respectively).

Conclusion: SCI patients show heightened cardiovascular risks, with increasing MetS frequency linked to older age and longer injury duration.