Standardization of data analysis and reporting of results from the International Spinal Cord Injury Core Data Set

• Published in: Spinal cord Vol. 49; no. 5; pp. 596 - 599
• Main Authors: DeVivo, M J, Biering-Sørensen, F, New, P, Chen, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.05.2011; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/1687/1825; 706/648/453; Age Factors; Age of Onset; Anatomy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Databases, Factual - standards; Human Physiology; Humans; International Classification of Diseases - standards; Neurochemistry; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; original-article; Registries - standards; Spinal Cord Injuries - classification; Spinal Cord Injuries - diagnosis; Spinal Cord Injuries - epidemiology; Trauma Severity Indices; spinal cord injury; epidemiology; standardization
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sc.2010.172

Objectives: The objective of this study was to provide guidelines for reporting results using the International Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Core Data Set. Setting: International. Methods: A committee was created on request of the chair of the Executive Committee for the International SCI Data Set committees. The committee developed a draft consisting of set of recommendations, which were then reviewed and approved by the entire Executive Committee. Results: Age at injury is recommended as reported by the mean, s.d., median and range. When grouped, 15-year increments are recommended as follows: 0–15, 16–30, 31–45, 46–60, 61–75 and 76+ years. For pediatric SCI, 0–5, 6–12, 13–15, 16–21 years are recommended. Time since injury should be reported by mean, s.d., median and range. The following intervals are recommended: <1 year, 1–5, 6–10, 11–15 years, and 5-year increments thereafter. Calendar time (years during which the study is conducted) is recommended grouped by either 5 or 10-year increments with years ending in 4 or 9. For ‘length of stay’, the mean and s.d., as well as the median is recommended for report. Severity of injury is under ordinary circumstances recommended, reported in five categories: C1–4 American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade (AIS) A, B or C; C5–8 AIS A, B or C; T1–S5 AIS A, B, or C; AIS D at any injury level; and ventilator dependent at any injury level or AIS grade. Conclusion: It is expected that these recommendations can facilitate a more uniform reporting of the very basic core data on SCI. This will facilitate comparison between different SCI studies.