Co-morbidities Associated With Early Mortality in Adults With Spina Bifida

The aims of this quality improvement project were to identify secondary conditions and medical co-morbidities in adult patients with spina bifida and to determine which factors were associated with an earlier age of death.

Retrospective chart review of 487 patients who attended the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Adult Spina Bifida Clinic between August 1, 2005, and June 6, 2017, was conducted.

Of 487 patients who had received care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Adult Spina Bifida Clinic, 48 were deceased. The most commonly reported causes of death included infection, respiratory failure, renal failure, shunt malfunction, and metastatic cancer. Underlying co-morbidities and secondary conditions included hydrocephalus, Chiari II malformation, tethered cord, scoliosis, and abnormal renal function. In deceased patients, earlier age of death was significantly associated with myelomeningocele subtype and the presence of hydrocephalus and Chiari II malformation.

Clinicians treating individuals with spina bifida should be aware of the potential for earlier mortality in individuals with myelomeningocele, hydrocephalus, and Chiari II malformation, especially with regard to infection, respiratory failure, renal failure, shunt malfunction, and cancer.

Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME CME OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Discuss the importance of recognizing co-morbidities in adult individuals with spina bifida; (2) Describe secondary conditions and medical co-morbidities associated with spina bifida; and (3) Identify which conditions are associated with earlier age of death in adult individuals with spina bifida.

Advanced ACCREDITATION: The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.