Predictive factors and correlates for pain in postpoliomyelitis syndrome patients

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictive and associated factors for muscle and joint pain in postpoliomyelitis syndrome (PPS). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. SETTING: Postpolio clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Baseline data on 126 PPS patients entered into a multicentered clinical trial. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adjusted odds ratios were computed by using logistic regression modeling. Patients with or without muscle or joint pain were compared with regard to predictors and associated factors. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses for muscle pain, significant predictive and associated factors were female gender (P=.0006), longer duration of general fatigue (P=.019), and a lower score on the general health scale (P=.009) of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-From Health Survey (SF-36). In multivariate analyses for joint pain, significant predictive and associated factors were female gender (P<.003), longer latency (duration of stability after polio; P=.008), younger age at interview (P<.002), greater weakness at acute polio (P<.07), weaker lower-extremity muscle strength (P<.04), and a lower SF-36 general health scale score (P<.02). CONCLUSIONS: Women are more likely to report muscle and joint pain in PPS. Greater initial motor unit involvement and lower-extremity weakness may be additional important factors for determining joint pain. Both muscle and joint pain are associated with reductions in quality of life.