Physical activity and quality of life predictors among university students with polio in India: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) assessments measure the overall well-being of a person. Available data suggest an estimated 10-20 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, among 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.