Fatigue in polio survivors.
OBJECTIVE
Fatigue is commonly reported among polio survivors. The aims of the present study were to examine the incidence of perceived fatigue among a sample of Norwegian polio survivors, and to examine the association between the level of fatigue and sociodemographic and health variables.


METHODS
A mailed questionnaire containing, among others, Fatigue Questionnaire, Fatigue Severity Scale, sociodemographic and health variables were sent to a representative group of 312 Norwegian polio survivors. 276 subjects (88%) answered the questionnaire.


RESULTS
The incidence of fatigue among the polio survivors were considerably higher than in the normative data. Physical fatigue, more than mental fatigue, represented the major problems. Polio subjects who reported severe fatigue had significantly more other diseases and health problems than the normative group.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis and treatment of other or related physical conditions should be given higher priority in the management of persons with late effects of poliomyelitis, as these conditions probably can be the reasons for fatigue more than poliomyelitis sequelae alone.
Schanke
A K
AK
Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Research Unit, 1450 Nesoddtangen, Norway.
Stanghelle
J K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors