Untreated Sleep Apnea as an Aggravating Factor for Other Secondary Medical Conditions After Spinal Cord Injury

Untreated Sleep-related Breathing Disorders as an Aggravating Factor for Neuropathic Pain, Spasticity and Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-sectional Prospective Study

This cross-sectional prospective study will assess the potential association of more severe sleep apnea after spinal cord injury with more intense neuropathic pain, more severe spasticity, and more significant cardiovascular abnormalities including cardiac arrhythmias and blood pressure fluctuations. In addition, the participants' experience when undergoing home-based sleep screening test or hospital-unattended sleep screening test will be assessed in a semi-structured interview.

This cross-sectional prospective study will assess the potential association of more severe sleep apnea after spinal cord injury with more intense neuropathic pain, more severe spasticity, and more significant cardiovascular abnormalities including cardiac arrhythmias and blood pressure fluctuations. In addition, the participants' experience when undergoing home-based sleep screening test or hospital-unattended sleep screening test will be assessed in a semi-structured interview (qualitative analysis).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with subacute/chronic (> 1 month after injury) spinal cord injury.
• Individuals with a mid-cervical/mid-thoracic (levels C5 to T6) spinal cord injury.
• Individuals with a complete or incomplete (ASIA Impairment Scale A, B, C, or D) spinal cord injury.

Exclusion Criteria:

• individuals with other disorders of the central nervous system (e.g., sequelae of traumatic brain injury, stroke);
• Individuals with psychiatric disorders that can interfere with adherence to study;
• Individuals with neuromuscular diseases;
• Individuals with history of substance abuse;
• Individuals with prior history of hypersomnias or sleep apnea under treatment;
• Individuals with prior history of chronic pain (e.g. fibromyalgia).