Casper F. van Koppenhagen

Changes and Determinants of Life Satisfaction After Spinal Cord Injury: A Cohort Study in The Netherlands

OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of spinal cord injury (SCI) on life satisfaction of persons with SCI 1 year after discharge of inpatient rehabilitation. DESIGN A cohort study. Life satisfaction before SCI was retrospectively measured at the start of active rehabilitation. One year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, current life satisfaction was measured. SETTING Eight rehabilitation centers in The Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS Persons (N=147) aged 18 to 65 and wheelchair-dependent at least for long distances. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The Life Satisfaction Questionnaire. RESULTS Mean satisfaction with life +/- SD as a whole was 5.3+/-0 before SCI and 4.3+/-1.3 one year after inpatient rehabilitation. Sexual life, self-care, and vocational situation showed the largest impact of SCI (P<.05), whereas the social relationships domains appeared to be the least affected. Decrease of life satisfaction after SCI was larger when using the retrospective ratings than when using general population scores. Significant determinants of life satisfaction after SCI were high lesion level (beta=.31, P<.05), pain (beta=.19, P<.05), and secondary impairments (beta=.22, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS Life satisfaction decreased in persons with SCI. Level of lesion and suffering secondary impairments or pain were associated with low life satisfaction 1 year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

Validity of the Life Satisfaction Questions, the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE To assess and compare the validity of 3 life satisfaction instruments in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN Cross-sectional study 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. SETTING Eight rehabilitation centers with specialized SCI units. PARTICIPANTS Persons (N=225) with recently acquired SCI between 18 and 65 years of age were included in a cohort study. Data were available for 145 persons 5 years after discharge. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The Life Satisfaction questions (LS Questions), the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-9), and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). RESULTS There were no floor or ceiling effects. Cronbach α was questionable for the LS Questions (.60), satisfactory for the LiSat-9 (.75), and good for the SWLS (.83). Concurrent validity was shown by strong and significant Spearman correlations (.59-.60) between all 3 life satisfaction instruments. Correlations with measures of mental health and participation were .52 to .56 for the LS Questions, .45 to .52 for the LiSat-9, and .41 to .48 for the SWLS. Divergent validity was shown by weak and in part nonsignificant correlations between the 3 life satisfaction measures and measures of functional independence and lesion characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the validity of all 3 life satisfaction measures was supported. Despite questionable internal consistency, the concurrent and divergent validity of the LS Questions was at least as good as the validity of the LiSat-9 and the SWLS.

Recovery of life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury during inpatient rehabilitation.

van Koppenhagen CF, Post MW, van der Woude LH, de Groot S, de Witte LP, van Asbeck FW, van den Heuvel W, Lindeman E: Recovery of life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury during inpatient rehabilitation. Objective: To determine the course of life satisfaction of persons with spinal cord injury and its determinants during inpatient rehabilitation and up to 1 yr after discharge. Design: Prospective cohort study of 222 persons with spinal cord injury. Measurements at the start of active rehabilitation, after 3 mos, at discharge, and 1 yr after discharge. Questions about current life satisfaction and current life satisfaction compared with life satisfaction before spinal cord injury were asked and analyzed, and the sum score Life Satisfaction Total of these questions was analyzed using a multilevel regression analysis. Person and injury characteristics and secondary impairments at each measurement were analyzed as possible determinants of the Life Satisfaction Total score. Results: Estimated Life Satisfaction Total scores improved from 5.3 (SE, 0.16) at the start of active rehabilitation up to 6.5 (0.17) at discharge and remained stable (6.5; 0.16) during the first year after discharge. Significant determinants of a positive course of life satisfaction were less pain, fewer secondary impairments, and better functional status. Conclusions: Life satisfaction already improves during inpatient rehabilitation. Functional status, pain, and secondary impairments must be treated adequately in multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

Longitudinal relationship between wheelchair exercise capacity and life satisfaction in patients with spinal cord injury : A cohort study in the Netherlands

Abstract Objective To examine the relationship between wheelchair exercise capacity and life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury from the start of active inpatient rehabilitation up to 5 years after discharge. Design Prospective cohort study. Subjects Persons with spinal cord injury, aged 18–65 years, and wheelchair dependent at least for long distances. Method Measurements at the start of active rehabilitation, after 3 months, at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, and 1 and 5 years after discharge. A peak wheelchair exercise test was performed to record peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and peak power output (POpeak). Life satisfaction was measured as current life satisfaction and change of life satisfaction in comparison with life after spinal cord injury. Relationships between (changes in) exercise capacity and (changes in) life satisfaction were analyzed random coefficient analysis, corrected for possible confounders (age, gender, level of lesion, functional status, secondary impairments, pain, and sports activity) if necessary. Results Of 225 persons included, 130 attended two or more peak exercise tests, who were include in the analyses. Mean age at start was 39 years, 75% were male, 73% had paraplegia, and 76% had a traumatic lesion. Mean POpeak increased during the study from 32.9 to 55.9 Watts, mean VO2peak from 1.02 to 1.38 l/minute, and mean life satisfaction from 5.7 to 7.8. An increase of POpeak with 10 W was associated with a 0.3-point increase of life satisfaction (P = 0.01). An increase of VO2peak with 0.1 l/minute was associated with a 0.1-point increase of life satisfaction (P = 0.049). Conclusion High(er) wheelchair exercise capacity is related to high(er) life satisfaction in spinal cord injury patients.

Secondary health conditions and quality of life in persons living with spinal cord injury for at least ten years

OBJECTIVES To describe the prevalence of secondary health conditions among persons with long-term spinal cord injury, and the relationship between these secondary health conditions and quality of life. DESIGN Multicentre, cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS Individuals (n = 282) with traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury for ≥ 10 years, age at injury 18-35 years, current age 28-65 years, and using a wheelchair. METHODS Occurrence of 13 secondary health conditions was assessed during a consultation with a rehabilitation physician. Quality of life was measured with the International Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Basic Data Set. RESULTS Median time since injury was 22.0 years. Median number of secondary health conditions was 4. The most prevalent secondary health conditions were: musculoskeletal pain (63.5%), oedema (38.7%), neuropathic pain (34.1%) and urinary tract infections (33.3%). Only oedema showed a significant association with increasing time since injury. Median Total Quality of Life Basic Data Set score was 7. Musculoskeletal pain, pressure ulcers, problematic spasticity and constipation showed an independent association with quality of life in multiple regression analysis, but in general, these associations were weak. CONCLUSION Secondary health conditions are common among persons with long-term spinal cord injury and the following secondary health conditions were independently associated with lower quality of life: musculoskeletal pain, pressure ulcers, problematic spasticity, and constipation. Minimizing the impact of secondary health conditions should be a priority in the long-term care of persons with spinal cord injury.

Wheelchair exercise capacity in spinal cord injury up to five years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the course and determinants of wheelchair exercise capacity in spinal cord injury up to 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, and to describe loss to follow-up. DESIGN Prospective cohort study, with measurements at the start and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, 1 and 5 years after discharge. SUBJECTS A total of 225 wheelchair-dependent persons with spinal cord injury. METHODS Random coefficient analysis of the course and determinants of peak aerobic power output (POpeak) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). RESULTS A total of 162 participants attended 1 or more peak exercise tests and were analysed. Significant changes were found for both VO2peak and POpeak between start and 5 years after discharge, and discharge and 5 years after discharge. No significant changes were found for VO2peak and POpeak between 1 year and 5 years after discharge. Age, gender, level and completeness of lesion were determinants for level of VO2peak and age, gender, and level of lesion for level of POpeak. No significant determinants were found for the course of wheelchair exercise capacity. The 63 participants who were not analysed were older, and showed more persons with a tetraplegia. CONCLUSION Wheelchair exercise capacity of persons with spinal cord injury stabilizes at between 1 and 5 years after discharge. The participants appear to be a positive selection of the total study group.

Trajectories and Predictors of the Course of Mental Health After Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE To study the course and predictors of mental health in the period between the start of active spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation and 5 years after discharge. The hypothesis was that different mental health trajectories would be identified. DESIGN Multicenter prospective cohort study with measurements at the start of active rehabilitation, after 3 months, at discharge, 1, 2, and 5 years after discharge. SETTING Eight Dutch rehabilitation centers with specialized SCI units. PARTICIPANTS Persons (N=206) with recently acquired SCI aged between 18 and 65 years. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The 5-item Mental Health Index with a total score between 0 (lowest mental health) and 100 (highest mental health). RESULTS Levels of mental health increased between the start of active rehabilitation and 3 months later, remained stable thereafter, and increased again between 2 and 5 years after discharge. Latent class growth mixture modeling revealed 5 trajectories: (1) high scores (above 80) at all time-points (52%), (2) low scores (≤60) at all time-points (4%), (3) early recovery from 40 to scores above 70 (13%), (4) intermediate scores from 60 to scores above 70 (29%), and (5) severe deterioration of scores above 70 to scores below 30 (2%). Pain, sex, and education level were predictors to distinguish between the 5 trajectories. CONCLUSIONS Five different mental health trajectories were identified between the start of active rehabilitation and 5 years after discharge. About one third of the persons with SCI still perceived moderate to severe mental health problems 5 years after discharge. Pain, sex, and education level only predicted a small part of the variance in mental health trajectories.

Patterns of Changes in Wheelchair Exercise Capacity After Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVES (1) To identify different patterns of changes in wheelchair exercise capacity in the period between the start of active spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation and 5 years after discharge; (2) to examine the pattern determinants of the change in wheelchair exercise capacity. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. Measurements were recorded at the start of active inpatient rehabilitation, 3 months after the start, at discharge of inpatient rehabilitation, 1 year after discharge, and 5 years after discharge. SETTING Eight rehabilitation centers. PARTICIPANTS Persons with SCI (N=130; age range, 18-65y), who were wheelchair-dependent, at least for long distances. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Wheelchair exercise capacity: peak power output (W). RESULTS We found 4 different patterns of the change of peak power output (mean ± SD): (1) a pattern with high and progressive scores (33% of total study group): high progressive scores (start of rehabilitation: 49±15W to 5 years after discharge: 77±17.2W); (2) a pattern of improvement during inpatient rehabilitation and deterioration after inpatient rehabilitation (12%): progressive scores during inpatient rehabilitation with deteriorating scores after discharge (start of rehabilitation: 29±8.7W, to discharge: 60±8.4W, to 5 years after discharge: 39±13.1W); (3) a pattern with low and only slightly progressive scores (52%): low progressive scores (start of rehabilitation: 20±10.1W to 5 years after discharge: 31±15.9W); and (4) a pattern with low scores during inpatient rehabilitation and a sharp rise after discharge (3%): low inpatient scores with strong progressive scores after discharge (start of rehabilitation: 29±15.5W to 5 years after discharge: 82±10.6W). A logistic regression of factors that may distinguish between patterns with high and progressive scores and patterns with low and only slightly progressive scores revealed that older age, being a woman, having a tetraplegic lesion, and low functional status were associated with patterns with low and only slightly progressive scores. The pattern of improvement during inpatient rehabilitation and deterioration after inpatient rehabilitation showed more neuropathic pain and lower sports participation than patterns with high and progressive scores. CONCLUSIONS For the vast majority of patients, wheelchair exercise capacity after SCI shows a positive trend and can be described in distinct patterns that are dependent on personal, lesion, and functional characteristics.

Prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in people with long-term spinal cord injury living in the Netherlands

Abstract Purpose: To describe the prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in people with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the prevalence of high blood pressure and/or the use of antihypertensive drugs with the prevalence in the Dutch general population. Method: Multicentre cross-sectional study (N = 282). Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of ≥140 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of ≥90 mmHg after ≥2 blood pressure measurements during ≥2 doctor visits. High blood pressure was defined as a single measurement of a SBP of ≥140 mmHg and/or a DBP of ≥90 mmHg. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 21.5%. Significant predictors were: lesion level below C8 (T1–T6: OR =6.4, T7–L5: OR =10.1), history of hypercholesterolemia (OR =4.8), longer time since injury (OR =1.1), higher age (OR =1.1). The prevalence of high blood pressure and/or the use of antihypertensive drugs was higher in men (T1–T6 lesion: 48%; T7–L5 lesion: 57%) and women (T1–T6 lesion: 48%; T7–L5 lesion: 25%) with a SCI below C8 compared to Dutch able-bodied men (31%) and women (18%). Conclusion: High blood pressure is common in people with SCI. Screening for hypertension during annual checkups is recommended, especially in those with a SCI below C8. Implications for Rehabilitation High blood pressure is common in people with long-term SCI living in the Netherlands and its prevalence is higher in both men and women with a spinal cord lesion level below C8 compared with the age-matched Dutch general population. It is recommended to screen for hypertension during annual checkups in people with SCI, especially in those with a higher risk of developing hypertension, e.g. those with a spinal cord lesion level below C8 and an age of ≥45 years or a time since injury of ≥20 years. When a high blood pressure is measured in people with SCI, they should receive a further assessment of the blood pressure according to the available guidelines for the general population, including ambulatory 24 h-blood pressure monitoring.

Energy expenditure and muscle activity during lying, sitting, standing, and walking in people with motor-incomplete spinal cord injury

Study designCross-sectional exploratory study.ObjectivesTo determine oxygen uptake (VO2), energy expenditure (EE), and muscle activity (MA) during lying (rest), sitting, standing, and walking among ambulatory individuals with spinal cord Injury (SCI) and to compare VO2, EE, and MA between individuals with different levels of ambulation.SettingRehabilitation institution with a spinal cord injury unit.MethodsA total of 22 adults with motor-incomplete SCI, ten in a low-ambulation group (non-functional or household walker) and 12 in a high-ambulation group (community or normal walker). VO2 was measured using indirect calorimetry. EE was expressed in metabolic equivalent of task (MET). MA was measured using a wireless surface electromyography device.ResultsMean VO2 was 3.19 ml/kg/min. During lying and sitting, EE was below 1.5 METs for all participants. During standing, three participants of the low-ambulation group and none in the high-ambulation group showed MET values of >1.5. In the walking condition, all participants showed MET values above 1.5. MA during stance was higher compared to the sitting condition and significantly higher in the low-ambulation group compared to the high-ambulation group.ConclusionLying, supported- and unsupported sitting, without moving, appear to be sedentary behaviors for ambulatory individuals with a motor-incomplete SCI (MET values of <1.5 and a lack of MA). Walking, but not standing, is a moderate physical activity (>1.5 METs), which can be used by all individuals with motor-incomplete SCI to interrupt sedentary behavior.