STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review evidence on aging of the body systems after spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO), were searched for studies published between 1980 and 2009. The search was augmented by reviewing the reference lists of relevant papers. Non-intervention studies that were longitudinal or cross-sectional with able-bodied controls that were at minimum matched on chronological age were included for review. Levels of evidence were assigned to the study design using a modified Sackett scale. RESULTS: Of the 74 studies selected for inclusion, 16 were longitudinal in design. The hypothesis that SCI represents a model for premature aging is supported by a large proportion of level 5 evidence for the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, level 2, 4 and 5 evidence for the musculoskeletal system, and limited level 5 evidence for the immune system. Only a few level 4 and 5 studies for the respiratory system were found. The evidence on the genitourinary system, gastrointestinal system, and for skin and subcutaneous tissues provide level 4 and 5 evidence that premature aging may not be occurring. The evidence on the nervous system does not provide evidence of premature aging as a result of SCI. CONCLUSIONS: Premature aging appears to occur in some systems after SCI. Additional longitudinal studies are required to confirm these findings.
STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review evidence on aging of the body systems after spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO), were searched for studies published between 1980 and 2009. The search was augmented by reviewing the reference lists of relevant papers. Non-intervention studies that were longitudinal or cross-sectional with able-bodied controls that were at minimum matched on chronological age were included for review. Levels of evidence were assigned to the study design using a modified Sackett scale. RESULTS: Of the 74 studies selected for inclusion, 16 were longitudinal in design. The hypothesis that SCI represents a model for premature aging is supported by a large proportion of level 5 evidence for the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, level 2, 4 and 5 evidence for the musculoskeletal system, and limited level 5 evidence for the immune system. Only a few level 4 and 5 studies for the respiratory system were found. The evidence on the genitourinary system, gastrointestinal system, and for skin and subcutaneous tissues provide level 4 and 5 evidence that premature aging may not be occurring. The evidence on the nervous system does not provide evidence of premature aging as a result of SCI. CONCLUSIONS: Premature aging appears to occur in some systems after SCI. Additional longitudinal studies are required to confirm these findings.
Authors: W A Bauman; R H Adkins; A M Spungen; R Herbert; C Schechter; D Smith; B J Kemp; R Gambino; P Maloney; R L Waters Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: Bonnie E Legg Ditterline; Sevda C Aslan; David C Randall; Susan J Harkema; Camilo Castillo; Alexander V Ovechkin Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2017-08-09 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Dominik Zbogar; Janice J Eng; Jeremy W Noble; William C Miller; Andrei V Krassioukov; Mary C Verrier Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2017-06-13 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: C B Baunsgaard; H S Chhabra; L A Harvey; G Savic; S A Sisto; F Qureshi; G Sachdev; M Saif; R Sharawat; J Yeomans; F Biering-Sørensen Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 2016-05-03 Impact factor: 2.772