COVID-19 mortality rate in SCI population higher vs. general population
Persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI) are potentially at risk for severe COVID-19 disease given that they often have decreased lung capacity and may lack the ability to effectively evacuate their lungs. Though there has been some published work on the impact of COVID-19 on the spinal cord injury population, it wasn’t until this past week that a new study showed that the mortality rate of COVID-19 for SCI patients was substantially higher than those reported for the general population, but comparable to the at-risk populations. Until COVID-19 and all of its impacts are fully understood, it is important that vulnerable populations, including those with neurological disorders, strictly adhere to physical distancing and elevated hygiene practices to minimize initial transmission of the disease. TRANSLATION: don’t assume the vaccine is your ticket out of the pandemic.
This latest report included English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese literature on COVID-19 and SCI that provided information on clinical presentation, characteristics, course, and outcomes of COVID-19 disease in SCI, covering 171 patients with SCI.
Persons with SCI are potentially at risk for severe COVID-19 disease for a number of reasons. People with higher SCI lesions often have decreased pulmonary capacity and may lack the ability to effectively clear their lungs. Persons with higher cervical lesions may develop respiratory insufficiency and become ventilator dependent on a long-term basis, requiring intensive nursing care. Persons with SCI often have sedentary lifestyles and are at higher risk for chronic health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, compared to persons without physical disabilities. Further, there is pre-clinical evidence that persons with SCI may have a compromised immune system, making them vulnerable to infection and adding to their risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Additionally, presentation of symptoms of COVID-19 in persons with SCI may be different from persons without SCI, which may cause a delay in SARS-CoV-2 testing and the timely start of treatment.