Identification and relationship of quality of life and self-care ability among Chinese patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries: a cross-sectional analysis

Improving the quality of life of patients with complete spinal cord injuries is an urgent objective of the Chinese Department of Health. For better management of spinal cord injuries, it is necessary to understand the background of the patients. A total of 392 patients aged ≥18 years with traumatic spinal cord injuries (≥1 year of history) were attending the rehabilitation center of the Institutes. A total of 7 (2%) patients reported low quality of life, 200 (51%) patients reported moderate quality of life, 181 (46%) patients reported good quality of life, and 4 (1%) patients reported excellent quality of life. Male patients (P=0.042), patients with college or more education (P=0.039), incomplete spinal cord injuries (P=0.045), paraplegia (P=0.046), and absence of pressure injury (P=0.047) were associated with higher quality of life. A total of 81 (21%) patients were dependent on the caregiver, 85 (22%) patients were highly dependent on the caregiver, 155 (40%) patients were moderately dependent on the caregiver, 60 (15%) patients were mildly dependent on the caregiver, and 11 (2%) patients were independent for activities of daily living. An incomplete spinal cord injury (P=0.045) and paraplegia (P=0.041) were associated with higher independence in activities of daily living of patients. The independence in activities of daily living and quality of life of the Chinese population with complete spinal cord injury and tetraplegia are poor (Level of Evidence: IV; Technical Efficacy Stage: 5).

提升完全性脊髓损伤患者的生活质量，是中国卫生部门的一项紧迫工作目标。为更好地开展脊髓损伤患者的临床管理，需先明确患者的基线背景信息。本研究所附属康复中心共纳入392名年龄≥18岁、病程≥1年的创伤性脊髓损伤患者。其中，7例（2%）患者自述生活质量低下，200例（51%）为中等生活质量，181例（46%）为良好生活质量，4例（1%）为优秀生活质量。
男性患者（P=0.042）、大专及以上学历患者（P=0.039）、不完全性脊髓损伤患者（P=0.045）、截瘫患者（P=0.046）以及无压疮患者（P=0.047），均与更高的生活质量显著相关。
患者日常生活活动依赖情况分布如下：81例（21%）需完全依赖照护者，85例（22%）为重度依赖，155例（40%）为中度依赖，60例（15%）为轻度依赖，11例（2%）可完全自理日常生活活动。
不完全性脊髓损伤（P=0.045）与截瘫（P=0.041）均与患者更高的日常生活活动自理能力显著相关。
中国完全性脊髓损伤及四肢瘫患者群体的日常生活活动自理能力与生活质量均处于较低水平（证据等级：IV；技术效能阶段：5）。