Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Depressive symptoms in people with late effects of polio and the association with sociodemographic and disability-related factors

Nolvi, Maria LU ; Brogårdh, Christina LU ; Jacobsson, Lars LU orcid and Lexell, Jan LU (2025) In PM and R
Abstract

Background: Late effects of polio (LEoP) is a progressive condition leading to a lifelong disability that can affect mental health. There is limited knowledge of depressive symptoms and associated factors in people with LEoP. Objective: To assess the occurrence of depressive symptoms in people with LEoP and explore the association with sociodemographic and disability-related factors. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: University hospital outpatient clinic. Study participants: Eighty-one people (mean age 73 years, 49% women) with LEoP. Main outcome measurements: Swedish versions of the 20-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-20), the Self-reported Impairments in Persons with late effects of Polio (SIPP) scale, and the Reintegration... (More)

Background: Late effects of polio (LEoP) is a progressive condition leading to a lifelong disability that can affect mental health. There is limited knowledge of depressive symptoms and associated factors in people with LEoP. Objective: To assess the occurrence of depressive symptoms in people with LEoP and explore the association with sociodemographic and disability-related factors. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: University hospital outpatient clinic. Study participants: Eighty-one people (mean age 73 years, 49% women) with LEoP. Main outcome measurements: Swedish versions of the 20-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-20), the Self-reported Impairments in Persons with late effects of Polio (SIPP) scale, and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL-I). Methods: The participants responded to a postal survey including the GDS-20 and questionnaires about sociodemographic factors (gender, age, marital status) and disability-related factors (SIPP, mobility, RNL-I). To determine factors associated with depressive symptoms (GDS-20, dependent variable), univariable and two separate multivariable logistic regression models were created, comprising sociodemographic and disability-related factors, respectively. Results: Thirty-five people (43%) had a GDS score of six points or more, indicating suspected depression. In the model with sociodemographic factors, only marital status was significant (p =.001) with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.97–15.54). In the model with disability-related factors, self-reported impairments and perceived participation remained significant, with self-reported impairments having the highest OR (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18–1.88). Overall, disability-related factors had a larger explanatory value (Nagelkerke R2 0.73) for suspected depression than sociodemographic factors (Nagelkerke R2 0.24). Conclusion: The relatively high occurrence of suspected depression in people with LEoP implies that screening for depression is important. It remains to be determined if rehabilitation interventions targeting disability-related factors can affect mental health in people with LEoP.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
PM and R
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:41216862
  • scopus:105021572615
ISSN
1934-1482
DOI
10.1002/pmrj.70049
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9c19db32-876b-4d1e-abd4-ad4ec9214793
date added to LUP
2026-02-10 15:37:16
date last changed
2026-06-03 06:58:56
@article{9c19db32-876b-4d1e-abd4-ad4ec9214793,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Late effects of polio (LEoP) is a progressive condition leading to a lifelong disability that can affect mental health. There is limited knowledge of depressive symptoms and associated factors in people with LEoP. Objective: To assess the occurrence of depressive symptoms in people with LEoP and explore the association with sociodemographic and disability-related factors. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: University hospital outpatient clinic. Study participants: Eighty-one people (mean age 73 years, 49% women) with LEoP. Main outcome measurements: Swedish versions of the 20-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-20), the Self-reported Impairments in Persons with late effects of Polio (SIPP) scale, and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL-I). Methods: The participants responded to a postal survey including the GDS-20 and questionnaires about sociodemographic factors (gender, age, marital status) and disability-related factors (SIPP, mobility, RNL-I). To determine factors associated with depressive symptoms (GDS-20, dependent variable), univariable and two separate multivariable logistic regression models were created, comprising sociodemographic and disability-related factors, respectively. Results: Thirty-five people (43%) had a GDS score of six points or more, indicating suspected depression. In the model with sociodemographic factors, only marital status was significant (p =.001) with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.97–15.54). In the model with disability-related factors, self-reported impairments and perceived participation remained significant, with self-reported impairments having the highest OR (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18–1.88). Overall, disability-related factors had a larger explanatory value (Nagelkerke R<sup>2</sup> 0.73) for suspected depression than sociodemographic factors (Nagelkerke R<sup>2</sup> 0.24). Conclusion: The relatively high occurrence of suspected depression in people with LEoP implies that screening for depression is important. It remains to be determined if rehabilitation interventions targeting disability-related factors can affect mental health in people with LEoP.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nolvi, Maria and Brogårdh, Christina and Jacobsson, Lars and Lexell, Jan}},
  issn         = {{1934-1482}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{PM and R}},
  title        = {{Depressive symptoms in people with late effects of polio and the association with sociodemographic and disability-related factors}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.70049}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/pmrj.70049}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}