Post-polio syndrome and risk factors in korean polio survivors: a baseline survey by telephone interview.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain information on the socioeconomic, medical, and functional status of polio survivors, and to use these results as the preliminary data for establishing the middle-aged cohort of polio survivors.


METHODS
The subjects were recruited based on the medical records of multiple hospitals and centers. They were assessed through a structured questionnaire over the phone. Post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) was identified according to the specified diagnostic criteria. Differences between polio survivors with or without PPS were evaluated, and the risk factors for PPS were analyzed by the odds ratio (OR).


RESULTS
Majority of polio survivors were middle-aged and mean age was 51.2±8.3 years. A total of 188 out of 313 polio survivors met the adopted criteria for PPS based on the symptoms, yielding a prevalence of 61.6%. Mean interval between acute poliomyelitis and the development of PPS was 38.5±11.6 years. Female gender (OR 1.82; confidence interval [CI] 1.09-3.06), the age at onset of poliomyelitis (OR 1.75; CI 1.05-2.94), the use of orthoses or walking aids (OR 2.46; CI 1.44-4.20), and the history of medical treatment for paralysis, pain or gait disturbance (OR 2.62; CI 1.52-4.51) represented independent risk factors for PPS.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the majority of Korean polio survivors entered middle age with many medical, functional, and social problems. Female gender, early age of onset of poliomyelitis, the use of orthoses or walking aids, and the history of medical treatment for paralysis, pain or gait disturbance were identified as the significant risk factors for PPS. A comprehensive and multidisciplinary plan should be prepared to manage polio survivors considering their need for health care services and the risk factors for late effects, such as PPS.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun
H
Bang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Jee Hyun
JH
Suh
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
Seung Yeol
SY
Lee
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Keewon
K
Kim
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Joo
EJ
Yang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Se Hee
SH
Jung
Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
Soong-Nang
SN
Jang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Soo Jeong
SJ
Han
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
Wan-Ho
WH
Kim
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Min-Gyun
MG
Oh
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
Jeong-Hwan
JH
Kim
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University College of Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Sam-Gyu
SG
Lee
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jae-Young
JY
Lim
Late effects; Polio survivors; Postpoliomyelitis syndrome; Telephone survey