Lance L Goetz1,2, Lisa Ottomanelli3,4, Scott D Barnett3, Bryce Sutton3, Eni Njoh3. 1. Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Service, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia. 2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. 3. VA HSR&D/RR&D Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida. 4. Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
Abstract
Objective: To determine the relationship between medical and mental health comorbidities in a large cohort of veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Data were collected from interviews and electronic medical records of veterans with SCI (N = 1,047) who received care at 7 geographically diverse SCI centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs across the country (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01141647). Employment, medical, functional, and psychosocial data underwent cross-sectional analysis. Results: Lack of any documented mental health diagnosis correlated strongly with being employed at the time of enrollment. No single comorbidity was associated with employment at enrollment, but an increased number of medical and/or mental health comorbidities ("health burden") were associated with a decreased likelihood of employment at the time of enrollment. Conclusion: Further investigation is needed to clarify whether comorbidity severity or combinations of specific comorbidities predict rehabilitation outcome, including employment.
Objective: To determine the relationship between medical and mental health comorbidities in a large cohort of veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Data were collected from interviews and electronic medical records of veterans with SCI (N = 1,047) who received care at 7 geographically diverse SCI centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs across the country (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01141647). Employment, medical, functional, and psychosocial data underwent cross-sectional analysis. Results: Lack of any documented mental health diagnosis correlated strongly with being employed at the time of enrollment. No single comorbidity was associated with employment at enrollment, but an increased number of medical and/or mental health comorbidities ("health burden") were associated with a decreased likelihood of employment at the time of enrollment. Conclusion: Further investigation is needed to clarify whether comorbidity severity or combinations of specific comorbidities predict rehabilitation outcome, including employment.
Authors: Charles H Bombardier; Jesse R Fann; Denise G Tate; J Scott Richards; Catherine S Wilson; Ann Marie Warren; Nancy R Temkin; Allen W Heinemann Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2012-03-20 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Jeanne M Hoffman; Charles H Bombardier; Daniel E Graves; Claire Z Kalpakjian; James S Krause Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Bridget A Cotner; Eni N Njoh; John K Trainor; Danielle R O'Connor; Scott D Barnett; Lisa Ottomanelli Journal: Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil Date: 2015