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

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• Fitness
• paralytic poliomyelitis
• quality of life
• sequelae
• survivors

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all participants in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the under Grant: GR18155 Consejería de Economía e Infraestructura of Junta de Extremadura and European Regional Development Funds (ERDF/FEDER) “a way of doing Europe”, and under Grant [118/06] by the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs (IMSERSO, Spain).