Bulletin 16 - Trends in persisting cases of SCI
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Trends in persisting cases of SCI
Information on the changing trends in SCI has been limited by the lack of
continuous quantitative data. ASCIR is addressing this need through:
- inclusion of the data collected by Walsh from 1986 to 1991,
- retrospective
case note surveys of admissions during the years 1991-1994/95 (completed for
SA), and
- by the auditing of readmissions with respect to registration
status.
Figure 1 shows the age adjusted rate of persisting cases of SCI from
1986 to 1990, based on the Walsh dataset (excludes 1991 due to poor coverage in
that year), and for 1995/96, based on ASCIR. It is evident that the 1995/96
rate is close to the rates of the earlier period. This is perhaps surprising
given that the trends in injury from road crashes, which are the most frequent
cause of SCI, have declined substantially over the period (recent statistical
reports indicate a 30% decline in fatalities 1986-95[11] and a 25% decline in hospitalisations reported to Police
1988-94[12]). Further analysis is needed to
determine the reasons why there has not been a decline in persisting SCI. If
the trend in the incidence of all SCI (including early deaths and deaths on
ward, persisting cases, and cases with only temporary neurological deficit) is
in fact declining in parallel with the road injury trends, then one plausible
explanation for a static rate of persisting cases is that improved retrieval,
early management and rehabilitation of SCI has increased the number of cases
that survive to discharge from a SU.
[11] Federal Office of Road Safety. Road
fatalities, Australia: 1995 statistical summary. Canberra: Federal Office of
Road Safety, 1996.
[12] Federal Office of Road Safety. Road
crashes resulting in hospitalisation, Australia: 1994 statistical summary.
Canberra: Federal Office of Road Safety, 1996.
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