Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the additive effect of age on disability for adults with
spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: SCI Model
Systems. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with SCI (median age at injury, 32 y; range,
6-88 y) with a discharge motor FIM score and at least 1 follow-up motor FIM score
who also provided measures of other covariates (N=1660). Of the total sample, 79%
were men, 72% were white, 16% had incomplete paraplegia, 33% had complete
paraplegia, 30% had incomplete tetraplegia, and 21% had complete tetraplegia.
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary study outcome
was the motor subscale of the FIM. A mixed-models approach was used to examine
the additive effect of age on disability for individuals with SCI. RESULTS: When
controlling for motor FIM at discharge from rehabilitation, level and severity of
injury, age at injury, sex, race, and the age x time interaction were not
significant (P=.07). Age at the time of SCI was significantly associated with
motor FIM (F1,238=22.49, P<.001). Two sensitivity analyses found significant
interactions for both age x time (P=.03, P=.02) and age x time-square (P=.01,
P=.006) models. Trajectory of motor FIM scores is moderated slightly by age at
the time of injury. The older participants were at the time of injury, the
greater the curvature and the more rapid decline were found in later years.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that age moderately influences disability
for some individuals with SCI: the older the age at the time of injury, the
greater the influence age has on disability. The findings serve as an important
empirical foundation for the evaluation and development of interventions designed
to augment accelerated aging experienced by individuals with SCI.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS