Activities of daily living and CHD risk factors among individuals with chronic spinal cord injury

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationships between participation in activities of daily living (ADL) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in individuals with SCI. Participants completed the Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with Spinal Cord Injury (PARA-SCI) and CHD risk factor assessment including waist circumference, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL), HDL-cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides. Using generalized linear models, controlling for leisure time physical activity and covariates, increased Mobility ADL (transferring and wheeling) were associated with lower plasma total cholesterol and LDL. No other significant relationships emerged. Further investigation is needed to determine causality between Mobility ADL and CHD risk.