Citation

Wu JC, Chen YC, Liu L, Chen TJ, Huang WC, Cheng H, Su TP. J. Neurotrauma 2012; 29(5): 889-897.

Affiliation

Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Room 509, 17F, No. 201, Shih-Pai Road, Sec. 2, Peitou, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC., Taipei, Taiwan, 11217, +886-2-28757718, +886-2-28757702; jauching@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2011.1777

PMID

21510819

Abstract

This study used an 11-year nationwide database to analyze the incidences of spinal cord injury (SCI) in subgroups by age, gender, injury level, etiology, and socio-economic status. The National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan covering over 99% of the population accumulated from 1998 to 2008 was analyzed. All SCI patients older than 20 years of age and admitted to medical services were identified. Of the 168,832,051.4 person-years, 41,586 newly established diagnoses of SCI were identified, for a SCI incidence of 2.46 per 10,000-person-year, and 61.2% were traumatic. Cervical SCI was the highest at 1.28, followed by lumbar 0.56, and thoracic 0.30 per 10,000-person-year. Males were more likely to have SCI (HR=1.52). Compared to the age group of 20-39 years, the 40-59 year old group and the group aged >60 years were more likely to have SCI (HR=1.66 and 2.12, respectively). Those with the lowest insurance premium (which represents income level) were more likely to suffer from SCI compared to the highest insurance premium group (HR=1.86). Those living in the eastern area were more likely to have SCI than in the northern area (where political and economic centers are located) (HR=1.52). Those in the most rural area were more likely (HR=1.69) to have SCI than those in the most urbanized areas. The overall national incidence of adult SCI in Taiwan was 246 per million-person-year. Several groups, such as elderly males with lower socio-economic status, were more likely to experience SCI.

Language: en