Functional and structural impairments of the pulmonary system in middle-aged people with cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries

OBJECTIVES: To describe functional and structural impairments of the pulmonary system in middle-aged people with cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries (SCI), and compare findings to the general population. To determine if the neurological level of injury (NLI) is related to functional and structural impairments, and if age is related to structural impairments. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with matched controls. Data from the Swedish SPinal Cord Injury Study on Cardiopulmonary and Autonomic Impairment (SPICA). Matched control data were obtained from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS). SETTING: Outpatient SCI unit in southern Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 25 people (20% women, mean age 58 years, mean time since injury 28 years, NLIs C2-T6, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-C). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURES: Lung function was assessed with spirometry, diffusing capacity and impulse oscillometry. Structural assessments were performed with computed tomography. RESULTS: Pulmonary function was generally worse compared to the controls. Structural impairments were common (75% of the participants and 65% of the controls; P = 0.36, NS). NLI was significantly related to some of the functional and structural impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged people with long-term cervical and upper thoracic SCI can have substantial pulmonary functional impairments, whereas structural impairments do not differ considerably from the general population. Further larger and longitudinal studies should focus on the clinical impact of these impairments over time.