Article

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the importance of pain and fatigue in relation
to functioning, and to investigate the role that age plays in these relationships
in individuals with postpolio syndrome (PPS). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.
SETTING: Community-based survey. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 446
individuals with PPS. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Physical functioning (Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System
Physical Functioning item bank items), psychological functioning (Patient Health
Questionnaire-9), pain intensity (0-10 numerical rating scale [NRS]), and fatigue
(0-10 NRS). RESULTS: Pain and fatigue make independent contributions to the
prediction of physical and psychological functioning. Depression was more severe
in the middle-aged (</=64y) group than in the young-old (65-74y) or middle-old to
oldest (>/=75y) groups, although the associations between pain and fatigue and
both physical and psychological functioning are similar across all age cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS: Complaints of pain or fatigue in patients with PPS who are older or
elderly should not be attributed "merely" to the process of aging. The findings
also support the need for clinical trials to develop and evaluate interventions
that may help patients with PPS function better by treating pain and fatigue, as
well as the negative effects that these symptoms can have on functioning.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS