Spinal Cord Injury Epidemiology and Causes: A Worldwide Analysis with 2050 Projections

Background/Objectives: The global burden of spinal cord injury (SCI) is increasing due to aging populations and persistent regional disparities, highlighting an urgent need for updated epidemiological data. This study quantifies the global, regional, and national burden of SCI from 1990 to 2021 and projects its prevalence to 2050. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, we estimated age-, sex-, and location-specific prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). Projections were developed using sociodemographic modeling, with analyses including Bayesian meta-regression (DisMod-MR 2.1) and Das Gupta decomposition. Results: In 2021, approximately 14.5 million people worldwide were living with SCI, including 7.30 million with neck-level and 7.22 million with below-neck-level injuries. The age-standardized prevalence per 100,000 people was 88 for neck-level SCI and 95 for below-neck-level SCI. Although age-standardized rates declined slightly from 1990 (−0.17% for neck-level and −0.18% for below-neck-level), the absolute burden increased substantially. This increase was particularly prominent in East Asia and low- and middle-income countries. The highest prevalence was observed in men aged 50–64 years. Projections indicate that global SCI cases will exceed 14.5 million by 2050. Conclusions: These findings underscore the growing absolute burden of SCI. Targeted prevention strategies, enhanced rehabilitation services, and equitable healthcare access are crucial to mitigate long-term disability and improve the quality of life for affected populations worldwide.