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Prevalence of cerebral palsy, co-occurring autism spectrum disorders, and motor functioning - Autism and

Deborah Christensen1, Kim Van Naarden Braun, Nancy S Doernberg

  • 1Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|October 15, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The prevalence of childhood cerebral palsy (CP) remains stable in the US. This study highlights higher rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in non-spastic CP subtypes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Public Health Surveillance

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders affecting movement and posture, with varying prevalence rates globally.
  • Understanding the epidemiology of CP is crucial for resource allocation and intervention planning.
  • Previous US data indicated a prevalence range of 3.1 to 3.6 per 1000 children since 1996.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the current prevalence and key characteristics of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy in the United States.
  • To investigate the co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and epilepsy in children with CP.
  • To analyze motor function, specifically walking ability, in the studied CP population.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based surveillance system, the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, identified 451 children with CP.
  • Prevalence was calculated for 8-year-old children in four US areas during 2008.
  • Motor function was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and co-occurring ASD and epilepsy were ascertained.

Main Results:

  • The period prevalence of CP in 2008 was 3.1 per 1000 8-year-olds.
  • 58% of children with CP could walk independently.
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) co-occurred in 6.9% of children with CP, rising to 18.4% in non-spastic subtypes, particularly hypotonic CP. Epilepsy affected 41% overall, with the highest rates (67%) in children with limited walking ability.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood cerebral palsy prevalence in the US has remained consistent since 1996.
  • The elevated frequency of ASD in non-spastic CP subtypes warrants further investigation.
  • Epilepsy is highly prevalent in children with CP, especially those with significant motor impairments.
Abstract

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