Chetwynd J, Botting C, Hogan D
Christchurch School of Medicine.
N Z Med J. 1993 Sep 22;106(964):406-8.
To examine the experience of postpolio syndrome amongst a group of survivors of polio currently resident in New Zealand.
A sample of 700 responded to a request for volunteers to take part in a postal survey concerning their experience of polio and postpolio symptoms.
The mean age of respondents was 59 years. Two-thirds of them were women. The year of polio infection was between 1915 and 1962 with the majority (54%) being in the 1945-56 period. Most were under 16 years of age (73%) at the time. Paralysis and weakness in limbs and back were the most common symptoms in the acute phase of the infection. Symptoms of the postpolio syndrome were reported by significant numbers. Increasing weakness in muscle functioning in one or more area was evident amongst 38% of the sample. Generalised muscle weakness was reported by 47%, increasing muscle wastage by 17%, difficulty swallowing by 16% and shortness of breath on waking by 10%. Pain in joints was reported by 60% and excessive tiredness by 48%. After controlling for age there was little evidence that the symptoms increased with years since the acute polio infection.
The experience of postpolio symptoms was common amongst this group of polio survivors. It is estimated that there are between 3,000 and 5,000 polio survivors in New Zealand who may be suffering postpolio symptoms. The implications of this for primary and secondary health care provision are discussed.
调查目前居住在新西兰的一群小儿麻痹症幸存者中患小儿麻痹后遗症的情况。
700名志愿者响应了参与一项关于小儿麻痹症经历及小儿麻痹后遗症症状的邮寄调查的请求。
受访者的平均年龄为59岁。其中三分之二为女性。小儿麻痹症感染年份在1915年至1962年之间，大多数（54%）在1945 - 1956年期间。当时大多数人年龄在16岁以下（73%）。感染急性期最常见的症状是四肢和背部的麻痹及无力。相当一部分人报告了小儿麻痹后遗症的症状。38%的样本中一个或多个部位的肌肉功能明显减弱。47%的人报告有全身性肌肉无力，17%的人报告肌肉萎缩加剧，16%的人报告吞咽困难，10%的人报告醒来时呼吸急促。60%的人报告有关节疼痛，48%的人报告极度疲劳。在控制年龄因素后，几乎没有证据表明自急性小儿麻痹症感染后症状会随年份增加。
小儿麻痹后遗症症状在这群小儿麻痹症幸存者中很常见。据估计，新西兰有3000至5000名小儿麻痹症幸存者可能患有小儿麻痹后遗症症状。文中讨论了这对初级和二级医疗保健服务的影响。
