Life In Polio Survivors Research Articles

Health-related quality of life and multidimensional fitness profile in polio survivors

Purpose To assess and compare the HRQoL and physical fitness of polio survivors with healthy individuals. Methods Thirty-seven polio survivors and 40 healthy individuals were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was used to evaluate participant’s level of fatigue; Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used for evaluating HRQoL, and hand-grip strength, lumbar trunk muscle endurance, flexibility, balance, and aerobic endurance were used as measures for physical fitness. Results Polio survivors had lower HRQoL in most of the dimensions of the SF-36, and they showed a lower level of physical fitness than controls. In particular, mobility-related variables were 20–40% lower in people with PP. Conclusions Subjects with PP had lower scores for the physical component of the HRQoL questionnaire, reduced physical fitness, increased fatigue, less mobility, and a higher fall risk than controls. The outcomes of the study can be useful to the design of future programs tailored specifically to improve the assessment of the physical fitness of subjects with paralytic polio and to facilitate interventions based on appropriate physical exercise regimens. Implications for rehabilitation Post-polio syndrome is a disabling disease that impacts in fitness, physical and psychological health-related quality of life of polio survivors. Polio survivors should undergo physical activity programs that focus on improving mainly their mobility and physical functioning (walking, self-care, and climbing stairs), thereby reducing fall risk and fatigue. Individual tailored physical exercise programs should be promoted in order to improve HRQoL in this population.

Quality of life assessment scales in polio survivors: a scoping review

Quality of life evaluation is essential to explore the effect of paralytic polio on the daily life experience of the polio survivor. Researchers have employed a range of assessment instruments to evaluate quality of life among polio survivors. Hence, to select the appropriate scale, it is crucial to compare the contents and psychometric properties of these instruments. This scoping review explores quality of life instruments that are used in polio literature and analyzes their contents and psychometric properties using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) criteria. Using the Arksey and O'Malley framework, we conducted a literature search in the following electronic databases Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies that focused on quality of life of polio survivors. Of the 88 articles that qualify for full-text screening, 34 studies met our inclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers extracted data from the selected studies via Covidence, a reference manager that allows for blinding of reviews. Most of the instruments included in this review are generic, self-reported, and multidimensional. Despite having mostly adequate psychometric properties, these properties were not evaluated in polio survivors. The information provided in this review could be used to guide instrument selection and identify the need to develop a new tool or to adapt a pre-existing scale for measuring quality of life among polio survivors.

The effects of a home-based arm ergometry exercise programme on physical fitness, fatigue and activity in Polio survivors: a randomised controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effect of an eight-week home-based arm ergometry aerobic exercise programme on physical fitness, fatigue, activity and quality of life in Polio Survivors. Design: An assessor blinded randomised controlled trial. Setting: Home-based exercise. Subjects: Fifty-five Polio survivors randomised to exercise or control groups. Intervention: Home-based arm ergometry at an intensity of 50%-70% maximum heart rate, compared with usual physiotherapy care. Main measures: The Six-minute Arm Test, Fatigue Severity Scale, Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities and SF-36. Assessments were completed at baseline and at eight weeks. Results: There was no significant difference in the primary outcome, exercising heart rate during the Six-minute Arm Test, between the groups at follow-up [97.6 (SD10.1) compared to 102.4 (SD13.7) beats per minute (P=0.20)]. Blood pressure was significantly lower in the intervention group at follow-up [systolic blood pressure 132(18.6)mmHg compared to 144.1(14.6)mmHg (P=0.002)]. There were no between group differences in the Fatigue Severity Scale (P=0.25) or Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (P=0.49), with a small difference in SF-36 physical component score (P=0.04). Conclusions: This home-based arm ergometry programme successfully facilitated aerobic exercise in Polio Survivors, but did not result in a significant change in physical fitness, measured by the Six-minute Arm Test.

Factors Associated with Reduced Quality of Life in Polio Survivors in Korea.

The purpose of this study is to assess health-related quality of life in polio survivors (PS) compared with that in the general population in Korea. Polio survivors (n = 120) from outpatient clinics at two hospitals, healthy controls (HC, n = 121) and members of the general population with activity limitations (AL, n = 121) recruited through a proportional-allocation, systematic sampling strategy from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were surveyed with self-rated health-related quality of life (Euro QoL five-dimensions). The proportion of participants who reported problems in mobility, usual activity, and symptoms of anxiety/depression were higher in the PS group compared with the HC and AL groups. There was no significant difference in the self-care dimension across the groups. Polio-specific questionnaire, pain, depression, fatigue, Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were assessed in the PS group. Those with post-poliomyelitis syndrome had greater problems in mobility, usual activity, and depression/anxiety. Polio survivors, especially those with more pain and fatigue symptoms, and those who did not have access to medical services had poorer health-related quality of life. These findings afford useful information for potential intervention improving quality of life in polio survivors.

Health related quality of life in Turkish polio survivors: impact of post-polio on the health related quality of life in terms of functional status, severity of pain, fatigue, and social, and emotional functioning

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of postpolio-syndrome on quality of life in polio survivors. MethodsForty polio survivors were included in the study. Twenty-one patients fulfilling the Halstead's postpolio-syndrome criteria participated in postpolio-syndrome group. The remaining nineteen patients formed non-postpolio-syndrome group. Control group was composed of forty healthy subjects. Quality of life was evaluated by Nottingham Health Profile, depression by Beck Depression Scale and fatigue by Fatigue Symptom Inventory. Isometric muscle strength was measured by manual muscle testing. ResultsTotal manual muscle testing score was 26.19±13.24 (median: 29) in postpolio-syndrome group and 30.08±8.9 (median: 32) in non-postpolio-syndrome group. Total manual muscle testing scores of non-postpolio-syndrome group were significantly higher than that of postpolio-syndrome group. Patients with postpolio-syndrome reported significantly higher levels of fatigue and reduced quality of life in terms of physical mobility, pain and energy when compared with patients without postpolio-syndrome and control group. It was not reported a statistically significant difference in social and emotional functioning and sleep quality between postpolio-syndrome, non-postpolio-syndrome and control groups. Also it was not found any statistically significant difference in Beck Depression Scale scores among the groups. ConclusionsPostpolio-syndrome has a negative impact on quality of life in terms of functional status, severity of pain and energy. The identification, early recognition and rehabilitation of postpolio-syndrome patients may result in an improvement in their quality of life.

Qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde em sobreviventes turcos da pólio: impacto pós‐pólio na saúde relacionada com a qualidade de vida em termos de estado funcional, gravidade da dor, fadiga e funcionamento social e emocional

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of postpolio‐syndrome on quality of life in polio survivors. MethodsForty polio survivors were included in the study. Twenty‐one patients fulfilling the Halstead's postpolio‐syndrome criteria participated in postpolio‐syndrome group. The remaining nineteen patients formed non‐postpolio‐syndrome group. Control group was composed of forty healthy subjects. Quality of life was evaluated by Nottingham Health Profile, depression by Beck Depression Scale and fatigue by Fatigue Symptom Inventory. Isometric muscle strength was measured by manual muscle testing. ResultsTotal manual muscle testing score was 26.19±13.24 (median: 29) in postpolio‐syndrome group and 30.08±8.9 (median: 32) in non‐postpolio‐syndrome group. Total manual muscle testing scores of non‐postpolio‐syndrome group were significantly higher than that of postpolio‐syndrome group. Patients with postpolio‐syndrome reported significantly higher levels of fatigue and reduced quality of life in terms of physical mobility, pain and energy when compared with patients without postpolio‐syndrome and control group. It was not reported a statistically significant difference in social and emotional functioning and sleep quality between postpolio‐syndrome, non‐postpolio‐syndrome and control groups. Also it was not found any statistically significant difference in Beck Depression Scale scores among the groups. ConclusionsPostpolio‐syndrome has a negative impact on quality of life in terms of functional status, severity of pain and energy. The identification, early recognition and rehabilitation of postpolio‐syndrome patients may result in an improvement in their quality of life.

Living with polio and postpolio syndrome in the United Kingdom

The term Postpolio Syndrome (PPS) is used to describe new and late manifestations of poliomyelitis that occur later in life in polio survivors. Polio had been eradicated in the United Kingdom (UK) and most of Europe, although this is not the case in all countries. Research in this area has tended to focus upon the impact of polio and PPS on health status and functional health rather than its overall effect on people's lives. This study's two main aims were to explore the ways in which polio and PPS in the UK has affected the respondents' lives and to ascertain their views about how the quality of life could be improved. The two questions were as follows: (1) How has the health of people with polio and PPS affected their quality of life? (2) What would people with polio and PPS change to improve their quality of life? Deductive content analysis using existing qualitative data from a cross-sectional survey of 336 returned questionnaires from persons with polio and PPS was carried out. The average age of the participants was 54 years. Our research found that polio survivors valued social occupations and participation in family life. Our research has also shown that healthcare professionals still do not understand polio and PPS and this lack of understanding influences their clients' quality of life. Finances and accessibility of environments also influence participation in chosen occupations. Rehabilitation programmes for people with polio and PPS need to be targeted towards maintaining and improving accessible environments and participation in chosen occupations, and healthcare professionals need to ensure that persons with polio and PPS are referred to persons with specific expertise in this area.

IMPACT OF POST-POLIO-RELATED FATIGUE ON QUALITY OF LIFE

To assess the impact of post-polio-related fatigue on quality of life. Cross-sectional case control study. Patients without additional health problems that may induce fatigue were selected from among 82 polio survivors. Twenty-six patients with post-polio syndrome and 10 without post-polio syndrome were included. Control group consisted of 30 healthy volunteers. We assessed presence and severity of fatigue by Fatigue Severity Scale, quality of life by Nottingham Health Profile, and impact of fatigue on quality of life by Fatigue Impact Scale. Leg muscle strength was measured by manual muscle testing. Strength of leg muscles showed no differences between the patients with and without post-polio syndrome. Patients with post-polio syndrome reported significantly higher levels of fatigue and reduced quality of life compared with both patients without post-polio syndrome and control group. Fatigue Impact Scale revealed that fatigue did not significantly impair mental health, but had a negative impact especially on physical and psychosocial functioning of the patients with post-polio syndrome. Post-polio-related fatigue seems to be an important factor for further impairment of quality of life in polio survivors.

Life purpose: effect on functional decline and quality of life in polio survivors.

This article explores the protective effects that finding a purpose in life has on the level of physical and mental impairment and overall quality of life. Results were gathered from a national sample of 2,153 polio survivors. Although the combined social and physical experience of living with the disabling effects of polio has been associated with accelerated aging due to an increased allostatic load, finding a purpose in life may diminish these effects. The findings of this study indicate that purpose in life is associated with less perceived decline in health. Moreover, purpose in life is predictive of better quality of life despite levels of physical and mental impairment. Rehabilitation nurses should consider ways to help persons with polio maintain activities and interests that promote their sense of purpose in life.