Ely MR, Singh TK, Baggish AL, Taylor JA. Reductions in Cardiac Structure and Function 24 Months After Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2021;
102:1490-1498. [PMID:
33556347 DOI:
10.1016/j.apmr.2021.01.070]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the alterations in cardiac structure and function that occur in the months after spinal cord injury (SCI).
STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional SETTING: Rehabilitation Hospital PARTICIPANTS: Volunteers (N=29; 4 women, 25 men) between 3 and 24 months after SCI.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Transthoracic echocardiography was performed on each volunteer. The relationships between time since injury and neurologic and sensory levels of injury to cardiac structure and function were assessed via multiple linear regression.
RESULTS
Time since injury was most strongly associated with reductions in left ventricular end diastolic volume (r2=0.156; P=.034), end systolic volume (r2=0.141; P=.045), and mass (r2=0.138; P=.047). These structural changes were paralleled by reduced stroke volume (r2=0.143; P=.043) and cardiac output (r2=0.317; P=<.001). The reductions in left ventricular structure and systolic function were not differentially affected by neurologic or sensory levels of injury (P=.084-.921).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest progressive reductions in left ventricular structure and systolic function between 3 and 24 months after SCI that occur independent of neurologic and sensory levels of injury.
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