Risk of heart failure after spinal cord injury: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Cohort studySpinal cord· Aug 2026

Risk of heart failure after spinal cord injury: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Youngoh Bae, Miyoung Jang, Seung Won Lee … Hohyun Jung

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Spinal Cord Injury RehabilitationCohort studyPrognosisQ1IF 1.9

Cervical spinal cord injury nearly doubled long-term heart failure risk versus matched controls.

Risk of heart failure after spinal cord injury: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Youngoh Bae … Hohyun Jung

Spinal cord · Aug 2026 · Q1 in Rehabilitation

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term risk of heart failure (heart failure) following spinal cord injury (spinal cord injury) and to determine whether the risk differs by anatomical injury level.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study.

n = 1412 patients

Results

cervical cord injury roughly doubled the long-term risk of heart failure

AHR by subgroup · 95% CI

More results

Crude heart failure incidence rates per 1000 person-years were 10.25 for overall spinal cord injury and 10.76 for cervical spinal cord injury.

Incidence rate ratios were elevated for overall spinal cord injury (1.77; 95% CI, 1.36-2.29).

Risks were highest among individuals aged ≥ 60 years and men with cervical spinal cord injury.

More results

Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated lower heart failure-free survival across all spinal cord injury groups.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Spinal cord injury was associated with an elevated long-term risk of heart failure, particularly among those with cervical injuries and older adults.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings underscore the need for enhanced cardiovascular monitoring and early preventive strategies in high-risk spinal cord injury populations.

Risk of heart failure after spinal cord injury: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Risk of heart failure after spinal cord injury: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

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