Spinal Cord Injury & Chronic Health Risks | SCI Health

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries Linked to Substantially Higher Risk of Chronic Illness, Death

A new study reveals that individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) face a substantially elevated risk of developing a range of chronic health conditions, even decades after the initial injury, and are at increased risk of death – irrespective of age, injury location, or pre-existing health.

The findings, published in JAMA Network Open in January 2025, underscore the critical need for comprehensive, long-term care for TSCI patients that extends far beyond acute hospital treatment and rehabilitation. “The journey doesn’t end when patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries leave the hospital or rehab,” stated a leading neurologist at Mass General Brigham.”Programs should be implemented to identify patients at risk so that we can better manage their chronic care and address health issues that put patients at higher risk of death.”

Did you know?– TSCI patients are at increased risk for chronic conditions like hypertension, stroke, depression, and diabetes, even years after their initial injury.

Researchers observed a concerning trend: patients with TSCI were frequently returning to clinics with conditions like hypertension, stroke, depression, and diabetes. While the immediate complications of TSCI – including breathing difficulties, blood pressure irregularities, and heart rate problems – are well-documented, the long-term health consequences have remained largely unexplored until now.

To address this gap, a team of investigators evaluated the long-term risk of cardiovascular, endocrine, neurologic, and psychiatric conditions in TSCI patients. The study, spanning January 1996 to January 2024, compared outcomes to a control group without spinal cord injuries. Researchers analyzed data from hospital registries at Mass General Brigham (1,038 patients) and the University of California (UC) health System (1,711 patients), following patients for up to 20 years.

The results were striking.Compared to the control group, individuals with a history of TSCI exhibited a significantly higher risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, and diabetes.Furthermore,the study identified an increased risk of othre neurologic and psychiatric conditions. Notably, TSCI was associated with a heightened risk of death, even among patients who were previously healthy.

Pro tip:– Proactive, multidisciplinary long-term care is crucial for TSCI patients to manage chronic health risks and improve overall well-being.

The study’s methodology relied on established medical codes to identify patient conditions, a practice the authors acknowledge has limitations. While these codes strongly correlate with new diagnoses, the researchers excluded patients with pre-existing conditions to focus on those who were healthier at the study’s outset. This approach, they caution, may underestimate the true prevalence of chronic conditions among the broader TSCI population.

“These findings highlight the need for proactive and multidisciplinary long-term care strategies,” the neurologist explained. “Future studies are needed to identify effective interventions to reduce the burden of chronic disease among patients who have had a TSCI.” The research team hopes their work will spur the advancement of targeted interventions and improved care pathways to enhance the long-term health and well-being of individuals living with TSCI.

Reader question:– What specific interventions could be most effective in reducing chronic disease risk for TSCI patients?

Source: Mashlah,A., et al. (2025). Traumatic spinal Cord Injury and Subsequent Risk of Developing Chronic Cardiovascular, Neurologic, Psychiatric, and

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