Cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury: Prevalence of untreated risk factors and poor adherence to treatment guidelines

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death for people with long-term spinal cord injuries (SCI). This study looked at how common CVD risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes are in this group. The study also checked if people with SCI are getting the recommended tests and treatments for these risk factors, based on Canadian guidelines. The findings showed that many people with SCI have these risk factors, but aren't always getting the right screening or treatment according to the guidelines.

• 1
  A significant percentage of individuals with dyslipidemia (14.7%), hypertension (14.3%), and diabetes mellitus (2.5%) were not receiving appropriate medication according to Canadian guidelines.
• 2
  There's a notable gap between how common CVD risk factors are in people with SCI and how often they're being screened and treated.
• 3
  The study highlights insufficient emphasis on regular screening for cardiovascular disorders in the SCI community.