G.Shankar Ganesh, Devashree Marwah, Sukriti Punyal, Sachin Gupta

Ganesh et al. J Clin Transl Res 2020; 6(3):1

Published online: August 29, 2020

Abstract

Background. Quality of life (QoL) assessments measure the overall well-being of a person. Available data suggests an estimated 10 to 20 million polio survivors worldwide. Few studies have investigated the physical activity and the QoL of these patients in India.
Aim. The present cross-sectional study attempted to measure the physical activity and QoL of polio survivors and to evaluate the relationship between physical activity and QoL, amongst other factors.
Methods. The study was conducted in 96 students (64 women and 32 men with a mean age of 22.1 ± 3.7 years). QoL, physical activity, fatigue, and pain were measured by the World Health Organization QoL measure- abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF), physical activity scale for individuals with physical disabilities (PASIPD), multidimensional fatigue symptom inventory-short form (MFSI-SF), and numerical rating scale.
Results. The mean metabolic equivalent score was 27.10 h/day. Low mean scores were observed for the physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environmental domains of QoL (25.2 ± 3.3, 21.8 ± 3.0, 12.0 ± 1.8, and 23.0 ± 4.3, respectively). There was a weak negative association between physical activity levels and the physical health domain of QoL (P < 0.05), whereas no associations were identified between physical activity levels and other QoL domains (P > 0.05). Regression analysis identified female gender, fatigue, and physical activity as predictors of the physical health domain, and female gender, number of sites affected, and assistive devices used as predictors of the psychological health domain of QoL.
Conclusions: Low physical activity levels and QoL were noted among students with poliomyelitis in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Relevance for patients: Considering the inverse relationship between physical activity and QoL, physical activities should be modified or protected in polio survivors. Female polio survivors may be referred to psychological counseling to learn coping strategies, even during periods of relative stability.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18053/jctres.06.202003.001

Author Affiliation

1. Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Uttar Pradesh, India
2. Western Sydney University, Parramatta, Australia
3. Safdarjung Hospital, Ansari Nagar East, New Delhi, India
4. Jamia Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, India

*Corresponding author
G.Shankar Ganesh,
Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Mohaan Road, Lucknow-226017, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Email: shankarpt@rediffmail.com

Handling editor:
Michal Heger
Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Department of Pharmaceutics, Jiaxing University Medical College, Zhejiang, China

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