Racial Differences in Work-Related Spinal Cord Injury

Research Objectives: To investigate the racial differences in work-related injury among people with spinal cord injury (SCI)

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of survey data from the National SCI Model Systems (SCIMS) database

Setting: SCIMS centers

Participants: 5,974 participants (763 Hispanic, 1,478 Non-Hispanic Black, 3,484 Non-Hispanic White, and 249 other races) between the ages of 18-65 with SCI injured between 2010 and 2019

Interventions: N/A

Main Outcome Measures: Cause of SCI as incurred in the course of employment

Results: Significant differences were noted for demographics, injury-related factors, and English language ability across racial groups. Compared to other racial groups, Hispanics were younger, more likely to be male, employed, have less than a high school education, have paraplegic American Spinal Cord Injury Association Impairment Scale A, B, or C injuries, and have less English-speaking ability. Work-related injuries were found to occur in 9.7% of the sample (n=581) with Hispanics having a higher percentage than other racial groups (15.6%, P< 0.001), especially among those who are male (17.8%, P< 0.0001) or injured by falls (41.5%, P< 0.0001). When accounting for demographic and injury-related factors (sex, marital status, education, age, cause of injury, and severity of SCI), Hispanics had a higher likelihood of work-related injury when compared with non-Hispanic Blacks (Odds ratio 1.59, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 1.12-2.24). After accounting for English speaking ability, the odds of work-related injury decreased to 1.254 (95% CI 0.87-1.82).

Conclusions: Racial differences are present in work-related SCI, and the extent of these differences may be explained by English speaking ability. Our study findings provide a foundation for future research to explore factors that contribute to racial differences in work-related SCI, which could aid in prevention as well as clinical management.

Author(s) Disclosures: N/A