A Nationwide Epidemiological Study of Spinal Cord Injury in Geriatric Patients in Taiwan

Abstract

This prospective epidemiological survey of spinal cord injury (SCI) in Taiwan was carried out among patients attended by physicians from various medical centers and general hospitals all over Taiwan from July 1992 to June 1996. In all, 1,586 new cases of SCI were registered, representing about 70% of all possible SGI cases in Taiwan. The observed average annual incidence of SCI in Taiwan was 18.8 per million people, whereas it was 47.5 for the geriatric section. The mean age was 46.1 years with a plateau distribution after 20 years and older. Geriatric victims (297 cases, 18.7%, group II) formed a major section of SCI cases in Taiwan. Another group of younger SCI patients (15–64 years old, 1,232 cases, group I) was selected for comparison. The results showed that the male-to-female ratio, pattern of neurological deficits, and causes of injury and death of geriatric SCI patients differed significantly from those of the younger SCI group. Elderly women were exposed to a higher risk of SCI than younger women (M/F ratio 1.7:1). Falls were the leading cause of geriatric SCI, and two thirds of them occurred on level ground. Traffic accidents accounted for a third of SCI cases, half of which involved motorcycle accidents, a fifth of them pedestrians. Quadriplegia and quadriparesis occurred more frequently among elderly cases of SCI than in the younger group and a higher proportion of them died of SCI complications. Two thirds of elderly SCI patients recovered well enough after comprehensive treatment to be able to take care of themselves at home. The government should initiate programs of prevention to reduce the prevalence of geriatric SCI in Taiwan.

Impact of age on the injury pattern and survival of people with cervical cord injuries

“…Older people had an extraordinarily high annual incidence up to 47.5 per million population, urging more studies on this subgroup of people with SCI. 4 They demonstrated a higher female to male ratio, di erent distribution of neurological de®cits and injuries more likely caused by level falls, similar to previous studies. But no di erence was found in the aspects of severity of injuries, complications, hospitalization days and outcome.…”

“…1,2 The average age of onset of traumatic SCI ranged from 24.0 to 48.6 years in di erent surveys. 3,4 The oldest average age of onset was reported by Japanese researchers, which showed a mean age of 51 years in those with cervical cord injuries. 3 As people with SCI in the older population usually occurred with more complications, they deserved special attention.…”

The global map for traumatic spinal cord injury epidemiology: update 2011, global incidence rate

“…As previously reported, 36 land transport accounted for 49% of TSCI in the Taiwanese population with 65% of these accidents associated with two-wheeled vehicles. 36 Falls, particularly in Tianjin province, were higher than most developed countries.…”

“…As previously reported, 36 land transport accounted for 49% of TSCI in the Taiwanese population with 65% of these accidents associated with two-wheeled vehicles. 36 Falls, particularly in Tianjin province, were higher than most developed countries. Although work-related TSCI was reported only for Tianjin province (0.8%), this is inaccurate as the proportion of falls that are work-related are not included in this figure, and the number of falls in this area is high (57%).…”

“…A high incidence of TSCI in the aged with high rates of tetraplegia, predominantly due to low falls, was found in Taiwan. 36 …”