Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine cardiovascular disease risk factors and risk clusters in
Swedish persons with traumatic wheelchair-dependent paraplegia. DESIGN:
Prospective examination. SUBJECTS: A total of 135 individuals aged 18-79 years
with chronic (>or= 1 year) post-traumatic paraplegia. METHODS: Cardiovascular
disease risk factors; dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose, hypertension,
overweight, smoking, and medication usage for dyslipidemia, hypertension, and
diabetes mellitus, were analyzed according to authoritative guidelines. Stepwise
regression tested the effects of age, gender, and injury characteristics on
cardiovascular disease risks. RESULTS: High-prevalence risk factors were
dyslipidemia (83.1%), hypertension (39.3%), and overweight (42.2%) with pervasive
clustering of these risks. Being older was related to increased cardiovascular
disease risk, except for dyslipidemia. Hypertension was more common in low-level
paraplegia. Prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was lower than previously
reported after paraplegia. A high percentage of persons being prescribed drug
treatment for dyslipidemia and hypertension failed to reach authoritative targets
for cardiovascular disease risk reduction. CONCLUSION: Swedish persons with
paraplegia are at high risk for dyslipidemia, hypertension, and overweight.
Impaired fasting glucose was not as common as reported in some previous studies.
Pharmacotherapy for dyslipidemia and hypertension often failed to achieve
recommended targets. Population-based screening and therapeutic countermeasures
to these cardiovascular disease risks are indicated.

Langue : ANGLAIS