TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of obesity and high blood pressure in veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders
T2 - A retrospective review
AU - Weaver, Frances M.
AU - Collins, Eileen G.
AU - Kurichi, Jibby
AU - Miskevics, Scott
AU - Smith, Bridget
AU - Rajan, Suparna
AU - Gater, David
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: A frequent cause of mortality in spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI&D) is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obesity and high blood pressure (BP) are modifiable risk factors for CVD. DESIGN: Retrospective review of clinical and administrative data for 7959 veterans with SCI&D. Data elements included height, weight, blood pressure, demographics, and level of injury. Analyses included descriptive statistics and generalized logistic regressions. RESULTS: Twenty percent of veterans were obese according to their body mass index (BMI), and 33% were overweight; 22% had high BP (≥140/90 mm Hg). Because BMI underestimates obesity in SCI&D, adjusted BMIs for overweight (23-27 kg/m) and obesity (28+ kg/m) indicate that those overweight increased to 37%, and 31% were obese. Veterans ages 50-64 or who had paraplegia were more likely to be overweight and obese than others; being white or age 65+ was associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight. Veterans who were overweight or obese, black, older (age 50+), and paraplegic were more likely to have higher blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and high BP rates were lower for veterans with SCI&D than the general population. However, because BMI underestimates body adiposity in SCI&D, obesity is likely a much more prevalent problem in this population and warrants attention.
AB - OBJECTIVE: A frequent cause of mortality in spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI&D) is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obesity and high blood pressure (BP) are modifiable risk factors for CVD. DESIGN: Retrospective review of clinical and administrative data for 7959 veterans with SCI&D. Data elements included height, weight, blood pressure, demographics, and level of injury. Analyses included descriptive statistics and generalized logistic regressions. RESULTS: Twenty percent of veterans were obese according to their body mass index (BMI), and 33% were overweight; 22% had high BP (≥140/90 mm Hg). Because BMI underestimates obesity in SCI&D, adjusted BMIs for overweight (23-27 kg/m) and obesity (28+ kg/m) indicate that those overweight increased to 37%, and 31% were obese. Veterans ages 50-64 or who had paraplegia were more likely to be overweight and obese than others; being white or age 65+ was associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight. Veterans who were overweight or obese, black, older (age 50+), and paraplegic were more likely to have higher blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and high BP rates were lower for veterans with SCI&D than the general population. However, because BMI underestimates body adiposity in SCI&D, obesity is likely a much more prevalent problem in this population and warrants attention.
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U2 - 10.1097/PHM.0b013e31802b8937
DO - 10.1097/PHM.0b013e31802b8937
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17304685
AN - SCOPUS:33847675855
SN - 0894-9115
VL - 86
SP - 22
EP - 29
JO - American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
IS - 1
ER -
