Evaluation of Cardiopulmonary Function and Serum Lipid Profile in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To help cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention of cardiovascular disease in spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: Twenty spinal cord injured patients were divided into 3 groups according to level of injury - cervical, thoracic and lumbar level groups. Exercise stress test was initiated at a velocity of 1.5 mph for 1 minute and was increased 0.5 mph for each subsequent minute. To evaluate blood lipid profiles, we measured total cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein)-cholesterol, LDL (low density lipoprotein)-cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the fasting state. RESULTS: Oxygen consumption, oxygen consumption ratio of maximal oxygen consumption and minute ventilation were significantly higher in the thoracic and lumbar cord level groups compared to the cervical cord level group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between all 3 groups in respect to total duration of exercise (p<0.05). The HDL- cholesterol level showed significant correlation with total exercise time (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cardiopulmonary evaluation by specialized wheel chair system in spinal cord injured patients may be more safe and accurate method compared to the previous examination.