Cerebral palsy prevalence, subtypes, and associated impairments: a population‐based comparison study of adults and children

Abstract

AIM To describe the prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP), subtype distribution, motor and intellectual impairment, and epilepsy in adults with CP compared with children with CP.METHOD CP subtype and impairment data from the population-based CP register of western Sweden and population data from Statistics Sweden were used to compare surviving adults (n=581; 244 females, 337 males) born between 1959 and 1978, with the same cohort as children (n=723; 307 females, 416 males), and with the most recent cohort, born from 2007 to 2010 (n=205; 84 females, 121 males).RESULTS Prevalence of CP in adults born between 1959 and 1978 was 1.14 per 1000. The occurrence of impairments differed between CP subtypes. Motor and intellectual impairment were closely related, regardless of subtype. Subtype distribution among survivors differed significantly from the original cohorts (p=0.002), and the most recent cohort (p<0.01), tetraplegia and dyskinetic CP being less common in survivors. Severe motor impairment, intellectual disability, and epilepsy were less common among survivors than in the original cohorts (p=0.004, p=0.002, p=0.037) and the most recent cohort (p=0.004, p=0.008, p<0.01).INTERPRETATION Data on prevalence, subtype distribution, and impairments in children with CP are not applicable to adults with CP. Population-based studies of adults with CP are needed.

Nutritional Status and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Institutionalized Adults with Cerebral Palsy

“…Moreover, the prevalence of malnutrition and underweight status in this sample is high, which is also a point to consider in people with CP. Recent studies on individuals with CP showed that data concerning children with CP are not applicable to adults [42]. Thus, population-based studies of adults with CP are needed, and our study can contribute to increased knowledge of chronic disease risk, malnutrition risk, and survival among adults with CP.…”

Protocol of changes induced by early Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (e-HABIT-ILE) in pre-school children with bilateral cerebral palsy: a multisite randomized controlled trial

“…These impairments depend on the timing, extent and location of the brain lesions, thereafter determining how the whole-brain operates [4,5]. Most children with cerebral palsy showed a bilateral brain alteration producing bilateral motor impairment [6][7][8]. Until now, in clinical practice, most therapies used have shown to be ineffective, based mainly on passive guided movement or passive stretching [9][10][11].…”

Ambient Exposure to Agricultural Pesticides during Pregnancy and Risk of Cerebral Palsy: A Population-Based Study in California

“…The major CP subtypes are classified based on the type of motor impairment and areas of the brain affected, such as stiff muscles (spasticity), uncontrollable movements (dyskinesia), and poor balance and coordination (ataxia). Spastic CP is the most common subtype, affecting about 80% all CP cases [6]. In addition, CP cases can also be classified based on the distribution of limb involvement [1,6].…”

“…Spastic CP is the most common subtype, affecting about 80% all CP cases [6]. In addition, CP cases can also be classified based on the distribution of limb involvement [1,6]. A lack of oxygen at birth (asphyxia) or head trauma are present in less than 10% of all CP cases [3], and the etiology of most CP cases remains unexplained [7,8].…”