Cross-sectional associations of pulmonary function with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury

This study investigates the relationship between inflammation and oxidative stress with lung function in people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress have been linked to reduced lung function. The study found that higher levels of inflammation were associated with lower lung function in individuals with SCI. Increased systemic inflammation was associated with reductions in FEV1 and FVC independent of a number of covariates. Oxidative stress, measured through novel markers, did not show a clear relationship with lung function. There were no clear patterns of association with any of the oxidative stress biomarkers or other outcome measures.

• 1
  Higher levels of systemic inflammation (CRP and IL-6) were associated with lower percent-predicted FEV1 and FVC measurements in individuals with chronic SCI. participants with higher levels of CRP and IL-6 had lower percent-predicted FEV1 and FVC measurements.
• 2
  No clear associations were found between oxidative stress biomarkers (FLOx) and pulmonary function measures. There were no clear patterns of association with any of the oxidative stress biomarkers or other outcome measures.
• 3
  The associations between inflammation and pulmonary function remained significant even after adjusting for confounders like age, race, BMI, smoking, SCI characteristics, COPD, and medication use. Level/severity of injury, BMI, cigarette smoking status and pack-years, current use of statins, and COPD were all associated with changes of more than 10% in at least a single univariate model.