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[Intrauterine growth retardation and cerebral palsy]
1Institute for Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100083, China.
Insights
Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) significantly increases the risk of cerebral palsy (CP) in children. This study found IUGR children have a 4.2 times higher prevalence of CP, highlighting IUGR as an independent risk factor.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Public Health
Context:
- Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) affects fetal development, potentially leading to long-term health issues.
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common childhood motor disability with various risk factors.
- Understanding the link between IUGR and CP is crucial for early intervention and prevention strategies.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) in children with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
- To investigate the association between IUGR and the development of cerebral palsy.
- To identify IUGR as an independent risk factor for CP.
Summary:
- A cross-sectional survey in South Jiangsu Province assessed children under 7 years.
- The prevalence of CP in IUGR children was 5.7 per 1000, 4.2 times higher than in non-IUGR children.
- Logistic regression confirmed IUGR as an independent risk factor for CP, even in children with birth weights over 2,500g.
Impact:
- Findings underscore the importance of monitoring for CP in infants with IUGR.
- Highlights the need for targeted interventions for IUGR infants to mitigate CP risks.
- Provides valuable data for public health initiatives focused on maternal and child health.
Objective:
To obtain the prevalence of cerebral palsy in children affected with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and to explore the association between IUGR and cerebral palsy.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was carried out among children aged under 7 years in seven cities of south Jiangsu Province.
Results:
There were 5.6% (95% CI 5.6% to 5.7%) of the children classified as IUGR with a bimodal distribution, the highest in the 35-36 and 42-43 weeks of gestational age. The prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) in IUGR children was 5.7@1000 (95% CI of 4.7@1000 to 6.9@1000), 4.2 times more than that in non-IUGR children (95% CI of 3.4-5.2). The prevalence of CP in IUGR children of preterm and term delivery (< 37 weeks and > or = 37 weeks of gestational age) was 1.9 (95% CI of 1.2 to 3.0) and 4.2 (95% CI of 3.3 to 5.3) times more than that in non-IUGR children, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed the effect of IUGR on CP for children with birth weight greater than 2,500 g, after controlling for birth weight and gestational age. CP prevalence in IUGR children was two times more than that in non-IUGR children. Furthermore, prevalence of IUGR in children with birth weight lower than the 3rd percentile and in those with the 3rd percentile to lower than the 10th percentile was 3.4 and 1.8 times more than that in non-IUGR children, respectively.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of cerebral palsy in IUGR children was 5.7@1000, 4.2 times that in non-IUGR children and IUGR is an independent risk factor for cerebral palsy.