Representativeness of the spinal cord injury model systems national database

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Study investigated whether the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems National Database (SCIMS-NDB) patient sample is representative of all adults aged 18 years or older admitted to inpatient rehabilitation centers in the United States (US) for new onset traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Demographic, functional status, and injury characteristics were compared between 5,969 SCIMS-NDB cases and 99,142 cases from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation and eRehabData data sets (national sample) discharged from inpatient rehabilitation in 2000–2010. Analysis revealed negligible differences (10 percent) exist in mean age and preinjury occupational status; the SCIMS-NDB sample was younger and included a higher percentage of individuals who were employed (62.7 versus 41.7 percent) and fewer who were retired (10.2 versus 36.1 percent). Results indicate that adults in the SCIMS-NDB are largely representative of the population of adults receiving inpatient rehabilitation for new onset TSCI in the US. However, users of the SCIMS-NDB may need to adjust statistically for differences in age and preinjury occupational status to improve generalizability of findings.

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