Table 2.
Prevalence studies
| Region/state/country | Definition of acute SCI | Prevalence calculation | Prevalence |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States of America (1988–1989)9 Medium |
Not defined | Mixed-model sampling design was used to survey both noninstitutionalized and institutionalized populations. Noninstitutionalized: area segments were selected with primary sampling units. Institutionalized: nursing and long-term care health facilities within primary sampling units were sampled. |
721 per million |
| United States of America8 Medium |
Not defined | Calculated by multiplying annual incidence with life duration. | 906 per million |
| Olmsted County, Minnesota (1935–1981)15 Medium |
Definition coined by Kraus et al27 Injuries extending from the foramen magnum to the cauda equina and complete nerve root avulsions were included |
All Olmsted county residents with residual neurologic deficits from SCI. Includes patients who had their injuries prior to 1935 as well as those who moved to the county after injury. | Point prevalence: 220 per million in 1950 and 583 per million in 1981 |
| Helsinki, Finland (1953–1998)12 Medium |
ICD-9 codes 806, 952, and 9072A until 1995; ICD-10 codes S14.0-2, S24.0-2, S34.0-3, and T91.3 after 1995 | Subjects were identified from the following sources: Kapyla Rehabilitation center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Helsinki University Central Hospital, local organization of the disabled, local health centers, residential service houses and published announcements. | 280 per million |
| Rhone-Alpes Region, France (1970–1975)14 Low | Not defined | Calculated by multiplying incidence by average life duration (Henry Gabrielle Hospital). | 250 per million |
| Iceland (1975–2009)11 Medium |
ICD-9 codes 806 and 952, and ICD-10 codes S14, S24, and S34 since 1997. Patients with isolated injuries of the nerve roots and patients with symptoms lasting for <2 weeks were excluded |
Prevalence was based on survival data on SCI patients included in study as well as 10 patients injured between 1973 and 1974. | 526 per million |
| Western Norway (1952–2001)13 Medium |
Clinical definition* | Number of patients with SCI/100,000 inhabitants living in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties on January 1, 2002. | 365 per million |
| Tehran, Iran (2007–2008)16 Medium |
Not defined | Two-stage survey strategy: detect all potential cases in study population and then confirm that patients had SCI. Calculated by dividing the number of definite alive SCI cases by the total number of the study population. |
Point prevalence: 440 per million |
| Australia (1986–1997)10 Medium |
Not defined | Calculated by multiplying current incidence by disease duration (Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register). | 681 per million |
Notes: For ICD-9/10 codes, see Table S2.
*
Acute, traumatic lesion of the spinal cord resulting in motor and/or sensory deficit and/or bowel/bladder dysfunction, either temporary or permanent.
Abbreviations: ICD, International Classification of Disease; SCI, spinal cord injury.