We aimed to explore the association of functional outcomes with psychological variables, including depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and suicide risk, in persons with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The secondary aim was to determine specific functions related to the psychological variables. This retrospective study included 259 persons with SCIs who were admitted to the Korean National Rehabilitation Center between 2019 and 2021. The participants were interviewed by a psychiatrist and completed questionnaires, including the Korean Beck Depression Inventory II (K-BDI-II), Korean Beck Anxiety Index, Insomnia Severity Index, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. To assess functional outcomes, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III) and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury were determined by a physical therapist. The findings revealed a negative correlation of SCIM III subdivisions 1 and 3 with K-BDI-II. Specifically, feeding and mobility in bed and actions to prevent pressure injuries were functional factors associated with all four psychological variables. Our findings can guide clinicians to focus on improving functional independence and activities of daily living during the management of persons with SCI to prevent psychological consequences. Developing devices that aid in improving functional independence is crucial and may improve psychological problems in such individuals.

Objective To describe caregiver burden according to the caregivers’ general characteristics, especially with ageing, and type of care activities provided by caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury. Design A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, health conditions, and caregiver burden. Setting A single center study in Seoul, Korea. Subjects Participants were recruited from 87 individuals with spinal cord injuries and 87 caregivers. Methods The Caregiver Burden Inventory was used to assess caregiver burden. Results Caregiver burden was significantly different by age (p = 0.001), relationship (p = 0.025), sleep hours (p = <0.001), underlying disease (p = 0.018), pain (p = <0.001), and daily activities of individuals with spinal cord injury (p = 0.001). Caregiver’s age (B = 0.339, p = 0.049), sleep duration (B = −2.896, p = 0.012) and pain (B = 2.558, p < 0.001) predicted caregiver burden. Toileting assistance was the most challenging and time-consuming for caregivers, while patient transfer was associated with the greatest concerns for body injury. Conclusion Caregiver education should be targeted according to caregiver’s age and type of assistance. Social policies need to be developed to distribute devices and care-robots to reduce caregiver burden and thereby assist caregivers.

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience a notable decrease in bone mass below the level of injury. While studies have primarily focused on the acute phase with a small cohort, this study aimed to provide comprehensive insights into bone loss patterns over time. A total of 427 individuals with SCI who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) testing at the Korea National Rehabilitation Center (2010–2021) were included and analyzed by categorizing the DXA results into 1-year intervals based on postinjury duration. Demographic characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, and alcohol/smoking history) and SCI-related factors (etiology, severity, extent of injury, motor score, and Korean Spinal Cord Independence Measure 3rd edition) were collected and analyzed. Linear mixed models and Bonferroni post hoc tests were performed to assess temporal changes in bone mass and linear regression analysis to assess the associations between possible risk factors and bone loss. DXA results revealed that substantial annual bone loss occurred in the total hip site up to 3 years postinjury and in the femoral neck site up to 2 years postinjury. Old age, women, and low body mass index were significant risk factors for bone loss in the SCI population. Additionally, during the chronic phase, lower Korean Spinal Cord Independence Measure 3rd edition scores were associated with low bone mass. Significant annual bone loss in the hip region persists for up to 3 years postinjury in individuals with SCI. While prioritizing the risk factors for osteoporosis commonly used in the general population, applying the SCIM score in the chronic phase may provide additional information on bone loss risk.

Objective To assess the validity of different anthropometric measures (waist circumference [WC], body mass index [BMI], and percentage body fat) in diagnosing metabolic syndrome (MetS) among individuals with SCI and provides preliminary data for future studies in setting obesity cutoff values for this population.Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Sample information, anthropometric measures, and MetS variables of 157 individuals with chronic SCI were collected from an electronic medical records database.Results Increasing age (odds ratio [OR]=1.040, p=0.016) and lower neurological level of injury (OR=1.059, p=0.046) were risk factors for MetS. Male BMI (r=0.380, p<0.001) and male WC (r=0.346, p<0.001) were positively correlated with the number of MetS subfactors. Individuals with non-obese WC, excluding central obesity, were associated with having no MetS subfactors (p=0.005), and individuals with obese WC were associated with one or more subfactors (p=0.005). BMI was associated with MetS diagnosis (area under the curve=0.765, p<0.001), with the calculated cutoff value for BMI being 22.8 kg/m2.Conclusion This study calls for a stricter BMI cutoff for individuals with SCI in diagnosing MetS and warrants a large population-based study to define central obesity according to sex and ethnicity.