Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions
in male veterans aging with spinal cord injury (SCI) with that of older men
comparison groups. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: National community
dwelling. PARTICIPANTS: Men 65 years and older (veterans with SCI [n=794] injured
at least 20y, veterans [n=13,528], and general population [n=6105]).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of diabetes,
myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and coronary heart disease (CHD). RESULTS: In
older adult men with SCI, prevalences of diabetes, MI, stroke, and CHD were
20.30%, 18.70%, 9.84%, and 15.47%, respectively. The odds for stroke were 1.4
times higher in veterans with SCI than general veterans (P<.05), and there was a
trend to higher odds for stroke in men with SCI than in the general population
(P=.06). The odds for CHD were significantly lower for veterans with SCI than
both comparison groups. Being a past smoker was associated with greater odds for
diabetes, MI, and CHD, and being a current smoker was associated with higher odds
for stroke. High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels were associated with
higher odds for all conditions examined. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and MI were most
prevalent in older adults, but the presence was similar in men with SCI (vs other
men). In older adult men, SCI appeared to be protective of CHD. Stroke was most
prevalent in veterans with SCI, and controlling for demographic and risk factors,
SCI was associated independently with stroke.
These findings may be useful for
prioritizing preventive health strategies and planning long-term care for men
aging with SCI.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS