Arterial Stiffness in Persons with SCI: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Low cardiovascular fitness and abdominal obesity are risk factors for increasing arterial stiffness, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the able-body population. These risk factors are also common among people with spinal cord injury (SCI) whom also have an elevated risk of CVD. PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that SCI subjects have higher arterial stiffness and CVD risk than age-gender matched non-SCI subjects, assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) in cm/sec. METHODS: Subjects included 12 men with motor complete SCI (Age: 51+−11 yrs, Height: 179+−6.6cm; Body weight: 84.0+−20.2 kg, Injury Level: C3-L3, Time post injury: 25+−10.7 yrs) and eight Non-SCI controls (Age: 45+−10 yrs; Height: 175.1+− cm; Body weight: 75.6+−10.9 kg). PWV of the aorta was measured between the carotid and femoral artery as an index of arterial stiffness using the echo doppler method. Trunk adiposity was assessed using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Peak oxygen uptake (Vo2peak: mL/kg/min) was assessed via arm ergometry. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between SCI subjects and Non-SCI peers in age, height and body weight, despite what appears to be important baseline clinical differences between the groups. PWV in SCI subjects (1331+−327 cm/sec) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of Non-SCI peers (951+−335 cm/sec). Trunk fat mass in SCI subjects (14.7+−7.0 kg) was larger (P<0.05) than that of Non-SCI peers (7.0+−3.4 kg). Vo2peak in SCI subjects (15.9+−4.7 mL/kg/ min) was lower than that of Non-SCI peers (18.3+−8.4 mL/kg/min). CONCLUSIONS: The higher PWV in SCI subjects compared to Non-SCI subjects may suggest a higher risk of CVD among SCI subjects. Although further data collection is required, PWV has the potential to become a good diagnostic test for CVD among people with SCI.