| A cross sectional study was conducted to define the prevalence of and risk factors for chronic disease in paraplegic men with spinal cord injury (SCI). Medical records were systematically sampled from the database of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), the largest primary SCI care center in the metropolitan Chicago area. Information on demographic variables, psychosocial function, dietary intake, physical activity, anthropometric measurements and biochemical markers were collected from 115 participants during two-hour interviews.; Compared to the general population, prevalence of overweight (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥25) was lower but prevalence of large waist circumference (waist ≥40 inches) was higher in the sample of paraplegic men suggesting disproportionate central adiposity. The prevalence rates for hypertension and diabetes were higher (50% and 90% higher, respectively) than similar-aged US males. Regression models showed that BMI and waist circumference were strong predictors for hypertension and diabetes and that these conditions were seen at lower BMIs and waist circumferences compared to able-bodied population. These results suggest that men with SCI are at higher risk for hypertension and diabetes compared to an able-bodied population with the same BMI and waist circumference. The dramatic weight and waist changes that occurred after SCI were minimally associated with injury profiles and behavioral risk factors. Racial differences exist in cause of SCI, age at injury, socioeconomic status, behavior risk factors and risk for chronic diseases. African Americans, who were more likely be injured by violence at a younger age, had lower socioeconomic status, poorer dietary habits, and were at higher risk for underweight.; Overall, our results suggest that paraplegic men are at higher risk for chronic diseases at lower BMIs and waist circumferences compared to able-bodied populations. Behavior risk factors were not significantly associated with chronic diseases, possibly due to the limited sample size, large variation of these behaviors, and other environmental factors that were not examined in the current study. Additional surveys with a larger sample size, and measurement of more sensitive physical and biochemical markers for chronic diseases are necessary to confirm our findings. |
