Article

Comparison of prevalence of cardiovascular disease risks in persons
with chronic traumatic paraplegia with those in the general population. DESIGN:
Cross-sectional comparative study. SUBJECTS: A total of 135 individuals, age
range 18-79 years, with chronic (> or = 1 year) traumatic paraplegia. METHODS:
The prevalences of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, overweight,
and smoking, were assessed in the study population and were compared with an age-
and gender-matched sample of the general population in the region under study.
History of myocardial infarction and medication for dyslipidaemia, hypertension,
and diabetes mellitus were also recorded. chi2 tests were used to compare the
paraplegic cohort with the general population sample. RESULTS: Significantly more
persons with paraplegia reported a history of myocardial infarction (5.9%) than
those in the comparison group (0.7%). The prevalences of diabetes mellitus
(5.9%), dyslipidaemia (11.1%), and hypertension (14.1%) were also significantly
higher in the paraplegic group, as were drug treatment for these disorders.
CONCLUSION: Persons with paraplegia report increased prevalences of diabetes
mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia, in particular, compared with the
general population. Population-based screening and therapeutic counter-measures
for these conditions may therefore be particularly indicated for this patient
group.

Langue : ANGLAIS