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Correlation between Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Cerebral Palsy in Children: A Comprehensive Analysis Using the
Abdulrahman Al-Matary1, Sameh Abozaid1, Mustafa Al Suliman2
1Department of Neonatology, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh 11525, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
This study found a strong link between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and cerebral palsy (CP) in children. Infants with BPD had a significantly higher risk of developing CP, highlighting the need for targeted prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Neonatology
- Neurology
Background:
- Existing literature lacks conclusive evidence on the relationship between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and cerebral palsy (CP).
- This study addresses the gap by investigating the co-occurrence of BPD and CP in a large pediatric population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and cerebral palsy (CP) in children.
- To determine the risk of CP in infants diagnosed with BPD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset (2016-2019).
- Inclusion of pediatric patients with BPD and/or CP diagnoses.
- Descriptive and inferential statistics, including univariate and multivariate regression analyses.
Main Results:
- Analysis of 3,951,039 patients, with 28,880 diagnosed with CP.
- Significantly higher rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and other comorbidities in CP patients with BPD.
- Multivariate analysis showed a 5.70-fold increased likelihood of CP in patients with BPD (OR = 5.70, 95% CI: 5.17-6.28, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- A strong correlation exists between the co-occurrence of BPD and CP.
- Patients with BPD have a significantly higher likelihood of developing CP, even after adjusting for confounders.
- Findings support targeted preventive strategies to reduce CP burden in infants with BPD.
Abstract:
Background: The existing literature lacks conclusive evidence regarding the relationship between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and cerebral palsy (CP). This large epidemiological study aimed to explore the co-occurrence of BPD and CP among children. Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset from 2016 to 2019, investigating pediatric patients with BPD and CP diagnoses. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including univariate and multivariate regression analyses, were conducted to explore the association between BPD and CP. Results: Overall, 3,951,039 patients were analyzed. Among them, 28,880 patients had CP (n = 796 with BPD and n = 28,084 without BPD). The rates of intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3 and 4, central nervous system anomalies, chromosomal disorders, retinopathy of prematurity (≥grade 3), periventricular leukomalacia, prematurity, and low birth weight were significantly higher in the CP-with-BPD arm contrasted to the CP-without-BPD arm. Univariate regression demonstrated a significant BPD-CP association (odds ratio [OR] = 7.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.24-8.37, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis, adjusting for various confounders, reinforced this association (OR = 5.70, 95% CI: 5.17-6.28, p < 0.0001). We observed a significant association between increasing prematurity in neonates with BPD and an elevated risk of CP. Conclusions: This nationwide study identified a strong correlation between the co-occurrence of BPD and CP, though it does not establish causality. Rigorous adjustments revealed that patients with BPD appear to have a six-fold increased likelihood of being diagnosed with CP later on, compared to those without BPD. While aligned with the existing literature, this study represents the largest sample size with recommendations for targeted preventive strategies to mitigate the burden of CP.
