Risk factors for functional deterioration in a cohort with late effects of poliomyelitis: A ten-year follow-up study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: More than 7000 patients developed poliomyelitis during the main epidemic in the fifties in Israel. In recent years, there is a further deterioration in their condition due to accelerated aging process and post-polio syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk factors for the progression of functional status in a cohort of patients with late effect of poliomyelitis over a period of ten years. METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort study including 82 individuals with late effect of poliomyelitis evaluated over ten years. Mean age was 67±8.5 years, 52.4%were men and 79.3%were Jewish. Functional status was evaluated by activities of daily living (ADL) questionnaire. Risk factors, including general comorbidities, history of poliomyelitis infection, use of assistive devices, employment, and physical activity statuses were evaluated using specific questionnaires. RESULTS: Independence in ADL functions deteriorated significantly over ten years. Older age, ethnicity, use of a wheelchair, and use of orthotic devices in childhood were risk factors for deterioration in ADL function. No correlation was found between the presence of other comorbidities or poliomyelitis parameters and worsening of ADL functions. CONCLUSIONS: Late effect of poliomyelitis was associated with deterioration in ADL functions probably due to the combined effect of the initial severity of the paralytic poliomyelitis symptoms and accelerated aging.

Prosthesis for bilateral equinus foot: A case study

“…Despite the deterioration of his physical abilities due to the onset of a postpoliomyelitis syndrome, 10 the patient's autonomy and gait parameters were preserved. Walking speed always decreases with time in postpoliomyelitis syndrome, 11 but with the prosthesis, this patient's walking speed improved, as did his walking range.…”

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and MSCs-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Infectious Diseases: From Basic Research to Clinical Practice

“…For example, in the case of paralytic poliomyelitis or chicken pox, the severity of the infectious process complications (including pneumonia, acute neurological disorders, thrombocytopenia, chickenpox encephalitis with damage to the myelin sheaths of the brain and spinal cord, etc.) is directly correlated to the age of the patient [ 16 , 17 ]. The use of antibiotics and active immunization of the population have made it possible to defeat or take control of most of the infections, however, there are still many infectious diseases that cannot be treated (AIDS, a multidrug resistant form of TB, viral hepatitis C, prion infections, etc.…”

Two-year course of walking adaptability in persons living with late effects of polio

“…In most cases, these new symptoms are attributed to the development of post-polio syndrome (PPS) or described with broader terms that also incorporate symptoms more distantly related to the primary polio infection, such as “late onset polio sequelae” ( 4 ). New neuromuscular symptoms might further increase the already high risk of falling among persons with late effects of polio ( 5 , 6 ), and limit physical mobility due to increasing problems with walking and climbing stairs ( 3 , 7 , 8 ). As a result, persons with late effects of polio experience challenges with their walking ability to avoid falling on a daily basis ( 9 ).…”

“…Recently, two 10-year follow-up studies reported that persons with late effects of polio significantly deteriorated in physical mobility ( 10 ) and functioning, mainly determined by increasing problems with indoor and outdoor walking as assessed with questionnaires ( 8 ). For daily indoor and outdoor walking, it is important to be able to adapt the gait pattern to environmental contexts and task goals to guarantee safe ambulation.…”