Metabolic syndrome, cardiometabolic risk, and functional status in adults with early-stage spinal cord injury: A retrospective analysis.

CONTEXT/

OBJECTIVE

Metabolic disturbances are well documented in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), yet data regarding metabolic, inflammatory, and hemodynamic profiles during the subacute rehabilitation period remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and to examine metabolic, inflammatory, hemodynamic, and functional characteristics of adults with subacute SCI during early inpatient rehabilitation.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Inpatient rehabilitation clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 87 adults with traumatic or non-traumatic SCI more than six weeks post-injury.

INTERVENTIONS: Participants underwent a structured inpatient rehabilitation program consisting of multidisciplinary therapy, including physical and occupational therapy.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Sociodemographic and injury-related variables, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS), laboratory parameters (fasting glucose, lipid profile, complete blood count), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), blood pressure, and Functional Ambulation Scale (FAS) scores at admission and discharge. Metabolic syndrome was defined using standard biochemical criteria.

RESULTS

The mean age was 40.5 ± 19.6 years, and 78.2% of patients were male. Metabolic parameters remained within normal limits across AIS grades and lesion levels. Metabolic syndrome was present in 10.3% of patients. No statistically significant differences in NLR values were observed across AIS groups. Blood pressure remained stable across groups. Functional ambulation improved from a mean FAS score of 0.61 at admission to 1.06 at discharge.

CONCLUSION

Structured inpatient rehabilitation in the subacute phase of SCI appears to support early improvements in ambulation while maintaining metabolic, inflammatory, and hemodynamic stability. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the long-term significance of these findings.