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.

To assess how various self-reported impairments change over 10 years among people with LEoP, and explore factors associated with the changes.

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.

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).

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.