Health-related outcomes among adults with cerebral palsy: a scoping review

Advances in medical technology have extended the life expectancy of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), resulting in a growing adult population facing long-term physical, psychological, and social health-related challenges. This underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of their health-related outcomes.

This study aimed to identify and map the health-related outcomes assessed and the corresponding measurement instruments used in studies involving adults with CP.

Nine electronic databases were searched. The final search was completed on May 26, 2025. The studies were screened according to predefined criteria. To map the identified outcomes, data were organized into health-outcome levels: domain, sub-domain, outcome, and measurement. Frequency analysis was then performed to summarize the distribution of outcomes and measurement instruments across the included studies.

A total of 16,820 records were identified (16,811 through database searches and 9 through manual searches), of which 159 studies met the inclusion criteria. The analysis identified four domains, 18 sub-domains, and 67 outcomes, represented by 348 distinct measurement instruments. Most studies focused on younger adults, and research on older adults was underrepresented. Most of the outcomes were concentrated within the physical domain. Mental, social, and overall domains were less frequently addressed, and CP-specific measurement instruments were rarely applied.

This study provides an overview of the health-related outcomes reported in adults with CP. It underscores the need for the broader inclusion of older adults, continued expansion into non-physical domains, where research interests have been increasing but remain limited, and the consistent use of common measurement instruments, together with the development and wider application of CP-specific measurement instruments.