Related Experiment Videos
Bilateral spastic cerebral palsy--a comparative study between southwest Germany and western Sweden. II: Epidemiology
I Krägeloh-Mann1, G Hagberg, C Meisner
1Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Abteilung Entwicklungsneurologie, Germany.
Insights
Bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) rates rose in low-birthweight infants due to increased survival, then declined. Findings suggest prenatal causes for normal-birthweight and perinatal causes for low-birthweight BSCP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) is a significant developmental disorder.
- Understanding etiological factors is crucial for prevention and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze epidemiological trends of BSCP in relation to birth weight.
- To investigate potential etiological factors (prenatal vs. perinatal) for BSCP based on birth weight.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective epidemiological study of BSCP cases.
- Data collected from collaborative study in Germany and Sweden (birth years 1975-1986).
- Analysis stratified by birth weight, including low-birthweight (LBW) and very low-birthweight (VLBW) infants.
Main Results:
- Overall BSCP rates initially increased, then decreased.
- The initial rise was driven by increased BSCP in LBW and VLBW children.
- Mortality rates in LBW/VLBW children decreased significantly.
- BSCP rates in LBW children decreased in the latter study period.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal factors likely dominate BSCP etiology in normal-birthweight children.
- Perinatal and neonatal factors are more implicated in BSCP etiology for LBW children.
- Improved survival of LBW infants may influence BSCP incidence trends.
Abstract:
Epidemiological data of a collaborative study on children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) between south-west Germany and western Sweden are reported. The study period covered the birth years 1975 to 1986. Overall, the rate of BSCP increased during the birth year periods 1975-77 and 1978-80, but decreased thereafter. The rise was due to an increase of BSCP in low-birthweight (LBW) children, especially very LBW (VLBW) children. Mortality rates in LBW, and particularly VLBW, children decreased significantly during the whole study period in both countries. The BSCP rate, after the initial increase, showed a decrease during the second half of the study period in LBW children. Results are interpreted in favour of a predominantly prenatal aetiology in normal-birthweight and of a predominantly peri- and neonatal aetiology in LBW children.