Abstract
Study design
Registry-based cross-sectional study.
Objectives
To describe and analyze epidemiological and demographic characteristics of non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) and to compare persons with NTSCI and traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI).
Setting
A total of 225 non-traumatic and 349 traumatic SCI patients were admitted for primary rehabilitation at one of the three specialized SCI departments in Norway (located in Bergen, Trondheim, and Oslo) from 2012 to 2016. Patients who consented to registration in the Norwegian Spinal Cord Injury Registry (NorSCIR) were included.
Methods
Data were collected using the International SCI Core Data Set, as recommended by the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS). Demographics and injury characteristics were analyzed descriptively. The NTSCI and TSCI groups were compared using a Mann–Whitney U test and chi-square test.
Results
The mean age of the NTSCI patients was 55 years, and 59% were male. The incidence of NTSCI was 7.7–10.4 per million person-years, which is lower than the incidence of TSCI. NTSCI individuals were older, less severely injured, and their length of stay at the hospital was shorter than the TSCI individuals. The results may be influenced by the inclusion criterion in the registry. This makes the analyzed sample for NTSCI less complete. However, the majority of patients with nonprogressive NTSCI are included in the NorSCIR.
Conclusion
For the first time, we are able to provide the national epidemiological status on NTSCI based on available data from the national registry. Further studies are required to improve the capture of NTSCI for future incidence studies.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the three SCI specialized centers, located at Haukeland University Hospital, St. Olav’s University Hospital, and Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital for registration in the Norwegian SCI registry. We would like to thank all members of the Norwegian SCI registry steering committee for support and data collection, and the National Spinal Cord Injuries Association for good cooperation and enthusiasm.
Authors’ contributions
AH, ALP, and TR analyzed and interpreted the data, prepared, and revised manuscript content. SMN in collaboration with KKH provided statistical guidance/support and critically revised the manuscript content. AH, ALP, TR, and EES also critically revised manuscript content and supported data collection. All authors have given their final approval of the version to be submitted.
Funding
This study was financed by St. Olav’s University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. SMN was funded by the Norwegian research council (Grant number 256579).
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Halvorsen, A., Pettersen, A.L., Nilsen, S.M. et al. Non-traumatic spinal cord injury in Norway 2012–2016: analysis from a national registry and comparison with traumatic spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 57, 324–330 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-018-0223-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-018-0223-7
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