Abstract
Study design:
Cohort study, based on cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) that occurred between 1986 and 1997 (n=2959).
Objectives:
To estimate prevalence historically, currently and into the future.
Setting:
Australia.
Methods:
Prevalence was estimated on the basis of (1) historical data concerning survival and the relationship between the incidence of fatalities and SCI, (2) information on SCI incidence and survival 1986–1997, and (3) forecasts of incidence and population growth from 1997 to 2021 and consideration of survival.
Results:
It was estimated that the prevalence of SCI in Australia was in the range 8096–9614 cases by 1985. By 1997, this had increased to nearly 10 000 and the prevalence rate was more than 681 per million of population. By 2021, this could increase to nearly 12 000 if age-specific SCI incidence rates continued at average values evident over the period 1986–1997 and national population projections applied. In addition, there would be more elderly SCI cases due to the ageing of the national population. The prevalent population could be reduced to less than 7000 if the incidence rate was reduced by −3% p.a.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of SCI in Australia has increased and it will continue to increase unless measures are taken to control incidence. The case mix will change due to the ageing of the population, and treatment services will need to be prepared for a larger and more elderly prevalent population. It was suggested that consideration should be given to a national health and welfare goal to reduce the SCI incidence rate by −3% p.a., focusing in particular on the prevention of transport crashes and falls.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Blumer CE, Quine S . Prevalence of spinal cord injury: an international comparison. Neuroepidemiology 1995; 14: 258–268.
Lasfargues JE, Custis D, Morrone J, Carswell J, Nguyen T . A model for estimating spinal cord injury prevalence in the United States. Paraplegia 1995; 33: 62–68.
Walsh J . Costs of spinal cord injury in Australia. Paraplegia 1988; 26: 380–388.
Rothman KJ, Greenland S . Modern Epidemiology. Lippincott-Raven: Philadelphia, PA, 1998.
Mausner JS, Bahn AK . Epidemiology – An Introductory Text. W.B. Saunders Company: Philadelphia, PA, 1974.
O'Connor PJ . Development and utilization of the Australian spinal cord injury register. Spinal Cord 2000; 38: 597–603.
O'Connor PJ . Incidence and patterns of spinal cord injury in Australia. Acid Anal Prev 2002; 34: 405–415.
O'Connor PJ . Survival Following Spinal Cord Injury – Results from the First National Population Based Study. Motor Accident Commission: Adelaide, 2002.
Burke DC, Brown DJ, Burley HT, Unger GH . Data collection on spinal cord injuries: urological outcome. Paraplegia 1987; 25: 311–317.
Yeo JD, Walsh J, Rutkowski S, Soden R, Craven M, Middleton J . Mortality following spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 1998; 36: 329–336.
Frankel HL et al. Long-term survival in spinal cord injury: a fifty year investigation. Spinal Cord 1998; 36: 266–274.
McColl MA, Walker J, Skirling P, Wilkins R, Corey P . Expectations of life and health among spinal cord injured adults. Spinal Cord 1997; 35: 818–828.
Whiteneck GG et al. Mortality, morbidity, and psychosocial outcomes of person's spinal cord injured more than 20 years ago. Paraplegia 1992; 30: 617–630.
Geisler WO, Josses AT, Wynne-Jones M, Breithaupt D . Survival in traumatic spinal cord injury. Paraplegia 1983; 21: 364–373.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, Catalogue No. 3201.0. ABS: Canberra, 2001.
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Injury Fact Book 2001–2002. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, 2001.
Knutsdottir S . Spinal cord injuries in Iceland 1973–1989. A follow-up study. Paraplegia 1993; 31: 68–72.
Minaire P, Castanet M, Girard R, Beard E, Deidier C, Bourret J . Epidemiology of spinal cord injury in the Rhone-Alpes Region, France 1970–1975. Paraplegia 1978; 16: 76–87.
Kurtzke JF . Epidemiology of spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 1975; 48: 163–236.
Pedersen V, Muller PG, Bering-Sorensen F . Traumatic spinal cord injuries in Greenland 1965–1986. Paraplegia 1989; 27: 345–349.
Ditunno JF, Formal CS . Current concepts: chronic spinal cord injury. N Engl J Med 1994; 330: 550–556.
Griffin MR, O'Fallon WM, Opitz JL, Kurland LT . Mortality, survival and prevalence: traumatic spinal cord injury in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1935–1981. J Chron Dis 1985; 38: 643–653.
Walsh J, DeRavin JW . Long Term Care – Disability and Ageing. The Institute of Actuaries of Australia: Sydney, 1995.
Kannus P, Niemi S, Palvanen M, Parkkari J . Continuously increasing number and incidence of fall-induced, fracture-associated, spinal cord injuries in elderly persons. Arch Intern Med 2000; 160: 2145–2149.
Becker BE, DeLisa JA . Model Spinal Cord Injury System trends, and implications for the future. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1999; 80: 1514–1521.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia's Health 2000: The Seventh Biennial Health Report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. AIHW: Canberra, 2000.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The National Road Safety Strategy, 2001–2010. ATSB: Canberra, 2001.
Bureau of Transport Economics. Road Crash Costs in Australia. Report 102. BTE: Canberra, 2000.
Bureau of Transport Economics. The Black Spot Program, 1996–2002. Report 104. BTE: Canberra, 2001.
O'Connor PJ . Injury to the spinal cord in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Acid Anal Prev 2000; 34: 477–485.
Vulcan P . What Works in Injury Prevention. Injury Issues Monitor No. 15. Flinders University Research Center for Injury Studies: Adelaide, 1999.
Australian Transport Safety Bureaus. Four Wheel Drive Crashes, Monograph 11. ATSB: Canberra, 2002.
O'Connor PJ . Epidemiology of Spinal Cord Injury as Determined by National Population-based Register. Doctoral dissertation. Flinders University: Adelaide, 2002.
Alaranta H, Luoto S, Konttinen YT . Traumatic spinal cord injury as a complication to ankylosing sodalities: an extended report. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2002; 20: 66–68.
Liang HW, Wang YH, Lin YN, Wang JD, Jang Y . Impact of age on the injury pattern and survival of people with cervical cord injuries. Spinal Cord 2001; 39: 375–380.
Acknowledgements
Dr GA Ryan provided advice on the manuscript. The Directors of the Australian Spinal Units provided registration information on all cases of SCI in order to provide full national coverage of Australian population aged 15 years and over and in doing so assisted in creating the ASCIR. The ASCIR is a data set of the AIHW and was directed by the author from its inception until 2003.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
O'Connor, P. Prevalence of spinal cord injury in Australia. Spinal Cord 43, 42–46 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3101666
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3101666
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Thoracolumbar spine injury in Cameroon: etiology, management, and outcome
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2023)
-
Pulse article: survey of neurogenic bladder management in spinal cord injury patients around the world
Spinal Cord Series and Cases (2021)
-
Similar Adenoma Detection Rates in Colonoscopic Procedures of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury Compared to Controls
Digestive Diseases and Sciences (2020)
-
Prospective epidemiological update on traumatic spinal cord injury in Ireland
Spinal Cord Series and Cases (2019)
