Cognition and quality of life of people with spinal cord injury

The aim of this study was to assess the cognitive abilities of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) using the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavior Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS), a tool designed for testing cognition in individuals with limited hand motor function. The impact of cognitive dysfunction on quality of life was also assessed. METHODS: Forty-one patients with SCI were assessed using ECAS, the brief version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure. RESULTS: Overall, 28 of the 41 participants scored below the cut-off threshold for normal population in ECAS. The domains affected were language, 63%; memory, 51%; executive function, 44%; verbal fluency, 44%; and visuospatial skills, 24%. On multiple regression analysis, the ECAS total score moderately strongly explained the variance in the WHOQOL-BREF psychological (β = 0.428, t = 2.958, P = 0.005) and environmental (β = 0.411, t = 2.819, P = 0.008) domains. ECAS memory scores independently influenced WHOQOL-BREF physical (β = 0.398, t = 2.67, P = 0.011) and environmental (β = 0.37, t = 2.697, P = 0.010) domains. WHOQOL-BREF psychological scores were significantly influenced by ECAS executive scores (β = 0.415, t = 2.85, P = 0.007), whereas the social domain was not significantly influenced by ECAS scores. CONCLUSIONS: It was feasible to use ECAS in individuals with SCI. Cognitive ability influenced the quality of life of people with SCI.