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Changes in self-reported impairments over 10 years in people with late effects of polio and associated factors : A longitudinal cohort study

Brogårdh, Christina LU ; Sjödahl Hammarlund, Catharina LU and Lexell, Jan LU (2025) In Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 68(5).
Abstract

Background: Many people ageing with late effects of polio (LEoP) experience new or increased impairments which could negatively influence daily life. Currently, there is limited knowledge how LEoP-related impairments change over time. Objectives: To assess how various self-reported impairments change over 10 years among people with LEoP, and explore factors associated with the changes. Methods: This is a longitudinal cohort study, in which 181 people with LEoP (mean age 77 [SD 9] years, 99 women) responded to a postal survey twice, 10 years apart. The survey included questions on demographics, clinical characteristics, and self-reported impairments as assessed with the Self-reported Impairments in Persons with late effects of Polio... (More)

Background: Many people ageing with late effects of polio (LEoP) experience new or increased impairments which could negatively influence daily life. Currently, there is limited knowledge how LEoP-related impairments change over time. Objectives: To assess how various self-reported impairments change over 10 years among people with LEoP, and explore factors associated with the changes. Methods: This is a longitudinal cohort study, in which 181 people with LEoP (mean age 77 [SD 9] years, 99 women) responded to a postal survey twice, 10 years apart. The survey included questions on demographics, clinical characteristics, and self-reported impairments as assessed with the Self-reported Impairments in Persons with late effects of Polio (SIPP) scale. The SIPP comprises 13 items and asks how much participants have been bothered by various LEoP-related impairments during the past 2 weeks. Changes in SIPP scores were analyzed by paired sample t-test. Factors associated with the changes in SIPP total scores were analyzed with univariable linear regression analyses. Results: Seven items in the SIPP increased significantly over the 10 years (P < 0.05): muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, sensory disturbances, breathing difficulties at rest and during physical activity, cold intolerance, and general fatigue (corresponding to 1–12%). The SIPP total score increased on average 1.64 points (CI, 0.88 - 2.41, P < 0.001), corresponding to 6%. Two variables were significantly associated with the change in SIPP total score: self-reported degree of LEoP-related disability (B = 2.96, 95% CI, 0.88–5.03; P = 0.006) and presence of co-morbidities (B = 1.72, 95% CI, 0.14–3.30; P = 0.033). Conclusions: Impairments following LEoP seem to increase over a 10-year period but to a small degree. Having moderate to severe LEoP-related disability and comorbidities are associated with increased impairments. These findings can be accommodated in follow-ups and when providing and developing person-centered interventions for people with LEoP.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Associations, Impairments, Longitudinal, Post-poliomyelitis syndrome, Rehabilitation
in
Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
volume
68
issue
5
article number
101969
publisher
Elsevier Masson SAS
external identifiers
  • pmid:40252611
  • scopus:105002778321
ISSN
1877-0657
DOI
10.1016/j.rehab.2025.101969
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f1451517-5d1c-4d6b-8ddb-d798e068cec5
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 08:49:44
date last changed
2025-08-08 08:50:00
@article{f1451517-5d1c-4d6b-8ddb-d798e068cec5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Many people ageing with late effects of polio (LEoP) experience new or increased impairments which could negatively influence daily life. Currently, there is limited knowledge how LEoP-related impairments change over time. Objectives: To assess how various self-reported impairments change over 10 years among people with LEoP, and explore factors associated with the changes. Methods: This is a longitudinal cohort study, in which 181 people with LEoP (mean age 77 [SD 9] years, 99 women) responded to a postal survey twice, 10 years apart. The survey included questions on demographics, clinical characteristics, and self-reported impairments as assessed with the Self-reported Impairments in Persons with late effects of Polio (SIPP) scale. The SIPP comprises 13 items and asks how much participants have been bothered by various LEoP-related impairments during the past 2 weeks. Changes in SIPP scores were analyzed by paired sample t-test. Factors associated with the changes in SIPP total scores were analyzed with univariable linear regression analyses. Results: Seven items in the SIPP increased significantly over the 10 years (P &lt; 0.05): muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, sensory disturbances, breathing difficulties at rest and during physical activity, cold intolerance, and general fatigue (corresponding to 1–12%). The SIPP total score increased on average 1.64 points (CI, 0.88 - 2.41, P &lt; 0.001), corresponding to 6%. Two variables were significantly associated with the change in SIPP total score: self-reported degree of LEoP-related disability (B = 2.96, 95% CI, 0.88–5.03; P = 0.006) and presence of co-morbidities (B = 1.72, 95% CI, 0.14–3.30; P = 0.033). Conclusions: Impairments following LEoP seem to increase over a 10-year period but to a small degree. Having moderate to severe LEoP-related disability and comorbidities are associated with increased impairments. These findings can be accommodated in follow-ups and when providing and developing person-centered interventions for people with LEoP.</p>}},
  author       = {{Brogårdh, Christina and Sjödahl Hammarlund, Catharina and Lexell, Jan}},
  issn         = {{1877-0657}},
  keywords     = {{Associations; Impairments; Longitudinal; Post-poliomyelitis syndrome; Rehabilitation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier Masson SAS}},
  series       = {{Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine}},
  title        = {{Changes in self-reported impairments over 10 years in people with late effects of polio and associated factors : A longitudinal cohort study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2025.101969}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.rehab.2025.101969}},
  volume       = {{68}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}