Quality of life and associated factors in tunisian postpoliomyelitis syndrome patients.

INTRODUCTION

Postpoliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) is defined as secondary onset of new neuromuscular symptoms, following recovery from an initial episode of Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis with no other possible causes, which may lead to altered quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the quality of life (QoL) of Tunisian PPS patients and determine its associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study conducted over a 24 month period. Sociodemographic variables as well as clinical data evaluating the severity of PPS and QoL were collected using SF-36 scale. Associations between different clinical variables and QoL were studied.

RESULTS

We included 45 patients with a mean age of 52.4 ± 7.5 years. All aspects of QoL were affected. The most affected domain was PF with an average score of 32.5±11.8. QoL was better for the mental component (MCS) compared to the physical component (PCS) with mean scores of 43.7±7 and 35.6±12.1 respectively. The alteration of the PF and MH domains was significantly associated with MCS score (p = 0.01 and r = -0.38) and increased BMI (p = 0.04; r = -0.31). Pain intensity was associated with an alteration of all the domains of QoL except for the RP domain. QoL was significantly associated with Functional capacity (p = 0.018 and r = 0.35) and vitality (p = 0.038; r = 0.31).

Conclusion

All aspects of QoL were affected in PPS patients. The general PCS component was the most affected and the PF domain was the most affected.