Carbohydrate and lipid disorders and relevant considerations in persons with spinal cord injury.

Abstract

The available evidence does not support incorporating SCI status as an independent variable to assess risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality or to alter diagnostic/treatment thresholds compared to able-bodied adults. Furthermore, individuals with SCI may have unique physiologic differences compared to able-bodied individuals. As a result, it is uncertain that findings from studies conducted in able-bodied adults evaluating efficacy and harms of interventions to improve carbohydrate, lipid disorders, and subsequent CVD can be extrapolated to individuals with SCI. The role of exercise in individuals with spinal cord injuries represents a unique challenge and requires further exploration into the benefits, harms, and resource implications of broad-based spinal cord injury exercise programs.