Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Published on: January 11, 2016
Sex differences in cerebral palsy incidence and functional ability: a total population study
A Chounti1, G Hägglund, P Wagner
1Euroclinic Children's Hospital, Lemesou, Athens, Greece.
Insights
Male sex is a risk factor for cerebral palsy (CP), with no detected equalization in CP incidence between boys and girls in recent years. Motor function levels showed no consistent sex differences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function in children.
- Understanding gender differences in CP is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender disparities in CP subtypes and motor function.
- To analyze trends in CP incidence among boys and girls.
Main Methods:
- Study included 590 children with CP born in southern Sweden (1990-2005).
- CP classification used Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS).
- Poisson regression modeling analyzed CP incidence trends by birth year.
Main Results:
- Male predominance observed across most GMFCS and MACS levels and CP subtypes, excluding ataxic CP.
- No statistically significant gender differences found in gross motor function or manual ability.
- CP incidence trends showed no change between boys and girls from 1990-2005.
Conclusions:
- No equalization in CP incidence between genders observed in recent years.
- Consistent sex differences in motor function levels were not confirmed.
- Male sex identified as a risk factor for developing CP.
Aim:
To describe gender difference in a total population of children with cerebral palsy (CP), related to subtype, gross and fine motor function, and to compare CP incidence trends in girls and boys.
Methods:
All 590 children with CP born in southern Sweden 1990-2005 were included. CP subtype was classified according to the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe, gross motor function according to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and manual ability according to Manual Ability Classification System (MACS). Trends in CP incidence by birth year were analysed using Poisson regression modelling.
Results:
There was a male predominance in all levels of GMFCS except level II, in all levels of MACS and in all CP subtypes except ataxic CP. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females regarding gross motor function or manual ability. The CP incidence trends in boys compared with girls did not change during the period 1990-2005.
Conclusion:
No equalization was detected in the incidence of CP between girls and boys during recent years in this total population. We could not confirm any consistent sex difference in motor function levels. Male sex is a risk factor for CP.
More Related Videos
05:04Enhancing the Development and Growth of Infant Cerebral Palsy Rats Using Selective Spinal Manipulations
Published on: February 2, 2024
11:31Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks
Published on: December 5, 2014