DeVivo M J, Shewchuk R M, Stover S L, Black K J, Go B K
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35233-7330.
Paraplegia. 1992 Dec;30(12):820-7. doi: 10.1038/sc.1992.158.
As life expectancies of persons with spinal cord injuries increase, this population is aging rapidly. This trend requires that increasing attention be given to the healthcare needs of older persons with spinal cord injury. Follow up data on 11,117 persons injured since 1973 were analyzed by current age at 15-year intervals. Mean time postinjury was 4.7 years. Several trends were observed when comparing persons currently in the 16-30 year age group with persons in the oldest age group (age 76+). The percentage of persons independent in selfcare decreased from 61.9% to 29.1%. Ventilator use increased from 1.7% to 4.3%. Nursing home residence increased from 1.4% to 22.2%. The percentage of persons rehospitalized during the most recent year increased from 26.5% to 33.7%. Age was an important predictor of health status, but time postinjury was less important, perhaps due to the study's short postinjury time frame. While few differences in health status were observed in individuals between 16 and 60 years of age, persons in the oldest two age groups demonstrated lower levels of health status than younger individuals.
随着脊髓损伤患者预期寿命的增加，这一群体正在迅速老龄化。这种趋势要求更加关注老年脊髓损伤患者的医疗保健需求。对自1973年以来受伤的11117人进行随访数据，按15年间隔的当前年龄进行分析。受伤后的平均时间为4.7年。将目前16 - 30岁年龄组的人与最年长年龄组（76岁及以上）的人进行比较时，观察到了几个趋势。自理独立的人的比例从61.9%下降到29.1%。使用呼吸机的比例从1.7%增加到4.3%。入住疗养院的比例从1.4%增加到22.2%。最近一年再次住院的人的比例从26.5%增加到33.7%。年龄是健康状况的重要预测因素，但受伤后的时间不太重要，这可能是由于该研究的受伤后时间框架较短。虽然16至60岁的个体之间在健康状况方面几乎没有差异，但最年长的两个年龄组的人的健康状况水平低于较年轻的个体。
