Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury and Subsequent Risk of Developing Chronic Cardiovascular, Neurologic, Psychiatric, and Endocrine Disorders

Is traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) associated with increased long-term risk of developing neurologic, psychiatric, cardiovascular, and endocrine comorbidities in previously healthy individuals?In this cohort study of 2749 patients with TSCI and 8247 uninjured control participants, TSCI was associated with a significantly increased risk of developing major chronic conditions across neurologic, psychiatric, cardiovascular, and endocrine domains, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.5 to 2.5, with elevated risks evident across all age groups and spinal injury sites, including among individuals younger than 45 years. Post-TSCI comorbidities were also associated with increased mortality.These results underscore the need for long-term, multidisciplinary care strategies—including proactive screening and management programs—for individuals with TSCI, even in the absence of preexisting conditions, to address the heightened risk of systemic comorbidities and associated mortality.

Corresponding Author: Saef Izzy, MD, Divisions of Stroke, Cerebrovascular, and Critical Care Neurology, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 45 Francis St, BB-330, Boston, MA 02115 (Sizzy@bwh.harvard.edu).

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