Cardiovascular disease in cerebral palsy: shifting our focus from attention to prevention

Abstract

This commentary is on the original articles by Heyn et al. on pages 477–483 of this issue and Peterson et al. on pages 484–489 of this issue.

The Effects of Virtual Reality Tele-exergaming on Cardiometabolic Indicators of Health Among Youth With Cerebral Palsy: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Cerebral palsy is defined as “a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain” [ 5 , 6 ]. While cerebral palsy is not a progressive disorder, the youth age range of 13-24 years is a critical transitory stage to adopt exercise behavior that sets the course for positive health trajectories in adulthood [ 7 ]. The youth era captures both adolescents and the beginning years of early adulthood.…”

“…The youth era captures both adolescents and the beginning years of early adulthood. At an early adult age, people with cerebral palsy have substantially increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)–related conditions, metabolic syndrome [ 8 ], and a 3-fold increased risk of CVD mortality compared to the general population [ 7 , 9 , 10 ]. These conditions are believed to be associated with a lack of participation in regular moderate intensity exercise behavior during the adolescent period [ 7 , 11 ].…”

“…At an early adult age, people with cerebral palsy have substantially increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)–related conditions, metabolic syndrome [ 8 ], and a 3-fold increased risk of CVD mortality compared to the general population [ 7 , 9 , 10 ]. These conditions are believed to be associated with a lack of participation in regular moderate intensity exercise behavior during the adolescent period [ 7 , 11 ]. Adolescents with cerebral palsy engage in alarmingly low levels of exercise that far exceed those observed among peers without cerebral palsy [ 12 - 15 ], but they are two times more likely to exercise as early adults when exercising as adolescents [ 13 ].…”