Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38588027›Full record

Observational studyThe journal of spinal cord medicine2025

Trends in the characteristics and outcomes of older patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities: 2013-2018.

Anne Deutsch, Jennifer Burns, John Potelle, Allison Kessler

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in The journal of spinal cord medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Anne DeutschCenter for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2290-7757
Jennifer BurnsCenter for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
John PotelleHealth Practice, RTI International, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
Allison KesslerHealth Practice, RTI International, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo describe the characteristics and outcomes of older (≥ 65 years of age) patients with a non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) between 2013 and 2018.

designObservational study.

settingIRFs in the United States.

participants93,631 IRF Medicare stays for patients with NTSCI.

interventionsNot Applicable.

main outcome measuresLength of stay, self-care and mobility function, discharge destination.

resultsBetween 2013 and 2018, the number of older (≥ 65 years of age) Medicare patients with a NTSCI treated in IRFs increased about 22.1 percent, from 14,149 to 17,275. In addition to the increase, patients' sociodemographic characteristics shifted to have a slightly higher percentage of patients aged 65-74 years, a slightly higher percentage of males, and slightly fewer patients who identified as Hispanic. There was also a trend of more patients in the higher acuity case-mix groups and comorbidities tiers, but the median length of stay remained 12 days across all years. The percent of patients discharged home or to a community-based setting varied from 73.7 to 75.2 without a trend, although discharge self-care and mobility function increased slightly across the years.

conclusionsBetween 2013 and 2018, the number of Medicare patients with NTSCI treated in IRFs increased by more than 22 percent. While patient complexity increased, the median length of stay remained 12 days across the years. Discharge self-care and mobility function increased slightly, and the percent of patients discharged home ranged from 73.7 to 75.2 across the years.

Indexed as

Rehabilitation CentersSpinal Cord InjuriesAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansInpatientsLength of StayMaleMedicarePatient DischargeSelf CareUnited StatesAge at onsetAgedFunctional statusHospitalRehabilitationSpinal cord injuryTreatment outcome

Identifiers

PMID38588027
PMCPMC12329829

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.