Health-related quality of life after spinal cord injury

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in spinal-cord-injured adults living in Quebec (Canada). Method: Subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) all of whom were members of the Quebec Paraplegic Association who gave their consent to participate completed the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36); sociodemographic and medical data were also solicited. Results: Five hundred and eighty-seven participants were studied. The findings show a significant decrease in the score of the eight health concepts as measured by the SF-36 as well as that of the physical component summary measure (p<0.05). Analysing the various medical and sociodemographic variables with the eight scales of the SF-36 indicate that younger age, employment and the lack of hospitalization in the previous year were associated with a better quality of life. Mid- and long-term medical complications related to a spinal cord lesion and the impact of ageing are discussed briefly. Conclusion: HRQOL is decreased in the studied population with an SCI.