THE EFFECT OF AGING AND DURATION OF DISABILITY ON LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES FOLLOWING SPINAL-CORD INJURY

The purpose of the study was to discover the independent and combined effects of age and duration of injury on selected long term health out comes of 83 spinal cord injured (SCI) men (age range 21-79 years; dura tion of spinal cord injury 3-52 years). Specifically, the study examin ed a multivariate model which specified that age, duration, the intera ction of age and duration, and level of lesion were related to the fol lowing health outcomes: pain, fatigue, functional independence, mobili ty, illness and symptomatology, perceived overall health, social suppo rt, life satisfaction, and economic stability. Age had significant mai n effects on three outcomes. With increasing age, the sample experienc ed more fatigue, decreased activity (due to pain), and more overall sa tisfaction with their lives. Duration of SCI showed significant main e ffects on two outcomes. As subjects lived longer with their SCI, they felt less financially secure and experienced more symptoms and illness es. Significant interaction effects of age and duration of SCI were fo und for two outcomes. Older age combined with longer duration of SCI a mplified subjects' perceptions of financial insecurity, and threats to health. The findings send a clear message to service-providers and po licy makers about the added vulnerability of older disabled individual s, about the need for extra vigilance in health care issues, and about the necessity of a social-economic safety net for already disadvantag ed individuals.