title: The association between post-polio symptoms as measured by the Index of Post-Polio Sequelae and self-reported functional status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between self-reported severity of polio sequelae and current functional status among polio survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross sectional study of 195 polio survivors attending a polio outpatient clinic at a university hospital. The main outcome measures of demographic, medical, social, and functional data were gleaned from a questionnaire adapted for the polio population. The severity of polio sequelae was evaluated with the self-reported Index of Post-Polio Sequelae (IPPS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of our sample was 57.6 ± 10.5 years, 53% were men, 38% had acquired higher education and 37% were employed. We found significant correlations between the total IPPS score and independence in activity of daily living (P<0.05), the use of walking aids (P<0.005) and mobility in and out-of-doors (P<0.0001). A positive correlation was also found between the total IPPS score and subjective assessment of physical and mental health (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher disability in ADL and mobility and lower perception of physical and mental health in polio survivors were associated with a higher score on the IPPS, reflecting greater severity of polio sequelae. These findings demonstrate the IPPS as a useful tool in the clinical evaluation of the polio population, however further data is needed in order to determine if this index can assess clinically significant changes over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hadassah Medical Center, Israel.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hadassah Medical Center, Israel.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gartsman
authors.affiliation: The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Braun School of Public Health, Israel.
authors.forename: Bella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.affiliation: The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Braun School of Public Health, Israel.
authors.forename: Yechiel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.affiliation: The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Braun School of Public Health, Israel.
authors.forename: Orly
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Manor
authors.affiliation: The Hebrew University-Hadassah, Braun School of Public Health, Israel.
authors.forename: Hagai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hadassah Medical Center, Israel. Electronic address: meiner@hadassah.org.il.
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Meiner
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Functional outcomes; Health status; Index of Post-Polio Sequelae (IPPS); Poliomyelitis