Objective: In the present population-based study, we investigated the association of PD with SCI according to the severity of disability and injured spinal cord level, using the national wide database.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with various neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the link between the severity and injury level of the SCI and the risk of PD development has not yet been investigated.

Method: We analyzed data obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2010 and 2018 and investigated the incidence of PD in 7,182 patients compared to 24,844 age- and sex-matched controls. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. We compared the risk of development of PD based on the degree of disability (without disability, mild, severe) and level  of SCI (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar)

Results: During the mean follow-up duration of 4.31 years, the SCI patient had a higher risk of PD compared to matched control subjects (adjusted HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.107–1.224). The risk of PD was greater among SCI patients with disability than those without disability (adjusted HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.100–3.479), especially those with mild disability (adjusted HR, 2.065; 95% CI, 1.045–4.080). Additionally, cervical level injury was associated with a highest risk in SCI patients without disability (aHR 1.550, 95% CI, 1.004-2.392), while thoracic level injury was associated with the highest risk in SCI patients with disability (aHR, 3.303; 95% CI, 1.041-10.481).

Conclusion: The present study found that patients with SCI have the increased risk of developing PD, particularly those with disability and thoracic level injury. Health professionals should consider development of PD in patients with SCI.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/risk-of-parkinsons-disease-in-spinal-cord-injury-a-nationwide-cohort-study-in-south-korea/