Living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) is challenging and complex, requiring significant support and effort from the healthcare community to ensure people living with disability from SCI achieve positive health and wellness outcomes. Individuals with SCI are two to five times more likely to die a premature death and have poorer overall health than their nonimpaired counterparts. Common causes of premature mortality in SCI include respiratory disease (e.g., pneumonia and flu), cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. Additionally, many secondary complications of SCI, such as functional decline, urinary tract infections, and pressure injuries, significantly decrease satisfaction with life and overall health. Individuals with SCI also have poorer mental health outcomes. For example, a diagnosis of SCI is associated with higher rates of mental illness, with one in five suffering from depression, significantly higher rates of anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and death by suicide. People living with SCI face unique challenges regarding functional independence, access to care, and complex health issues, often requiring comprehensive specialty care; as a result, telehealth provides a unique opportunity to augment established SCI care.
Access the full journal article in Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports.
