Journal of
Clinical Medicine and Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Clin. Med. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2235
  • DOI: 10.5897/JCMR
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 106

Full Length Research Paper

Chronic idiopathic polyneuropathy: Patients’ own perception of well-being in correlation to clinical condition

Thomas Rudolph1,2*, Jan Petter Larsen1,2,3 and Elisabeth Farbu1,2
1Department of Neurology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway. 2The Norwegian Centre for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway. 3Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Email: mokum99@online

  •  Accepted: 25 October 2011
  •  Published: 30 November 2011

Abstract

Chronic idiopathic polyneuropathy (CIP) is a disease of the elderly where further follow-up is usually not indicated after diagnosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the self-reported functioning and well-being in patients with CIP in correlation to clinical findings. We examined forty-eight patients with CIP. The Fatigue Severity Scale, Visual Analogue Scale for pain, Disability Rating Index, Berg Balance test and Medical Outcome Study 36-item short-form health status scale were correlated with clinical variables at long-term follow-up. Predominantly sensory symptoms and signs were found. Reduced balance and sensory function explained up to 31% of variance in self-reported physical impairment (p < 0.0001). Otherwise, self-reported functioning and well-being could not be explained by clinical symptoms. Sensory deficits and balance problems are typical in CIP, and reduced balance and sensory functioning partially explained impaired physical functioning and well-being. Further follow-up could be indicated to investigate the effect of specific training programs and whether other factors may contribute to impaired functioning and well-being as well.

 

Key words: Evaluation, functioning, polyneuropathy, well-being, outcome.