Temporal trends, clinical characteristics, and sociodemographic profile of post-neonatally acquired cerebral palsy in Australia, 1973-2012: A population-based observational study

Postneonatal Cerebral Palsy in Europe: Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics According to Contributory Events: An SCPE Study

BACKGROUND

Postneonatal cerebral palsy (PNCP) is rare and requires large databases to be studied over time.

OBJECTIVES

To study the time trend of prevalence of PNCP overall and by cause, and to describe the clinical characteristics of children with PNCP according to cause and compared with children with pre/peri/neonatal CP (PPNCP).

METHODS

The Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE) database was used. Primary events (the first known chronological event in the causal chain) were classified according to the SCPE classification (six main and 19 sub-categories). Prevalence trends for children born during 1976-2012 were modelled using multilevel generalised linear models. The clinical characteristics of PNCP and PPNCP cases born after 1998 were reported as proportions.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of PNCP were 1.76 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37, 2.23) and 0.82 per 10,000 live births (95% CI 0.73, 0.92) in children born during 1976-1980 and 2006-2012, respectively. The models showed a 2% annual decline in overall prevalence (prevalence rate multiplied by 0.98 each year) and a 10% decline for infectious causes for every 5-year change. The prevalence rate in children born during 2006-2012 was 0.26 per 10,000 (95% CI 0.21, 0.32) for infectious causes, which remained the most frequent. No trend emerged for other causes. Unilateral spastic CP, associated impairments and severe gross motor dysfunction were more frequent in PNCP than in PPNCP, and PNCP showed predominantly grey matter injury (55.6%). Seventeen percent were born preterm. PNCP differed by cause, with cerebrovascular accidents presenting the least severe and hypoxic causes the most severe forms.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms the decrease in the prevalence of PNCP in children born up to 2012, particularly for CP, due to infectious causes, which remain the most frequent. Children with PNCP had more severe presentation overall than those with PPNCP, with severity depending on the cause.

Improving Register Ascertainment of Children With Post-Neonatally Acquired Cerebral Palsy Through Health Service Partnerships

BACKGROUND

The New South Wales (NSW) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Cerebral Palsy (CP) Register is a database of clinical and demographic information from children with CP. A child with CP resulting from an insult to the developing brain sustained between 29 days and 2 years of age is classified as having post-neonatally acquired CP (PNN-CP). In clinical services, children may meet the criteria and timing for PNN-CP but have a singular diagnosis of acquired/traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVES

To implement and evaluate a new CP register ascertainment strategy focused on identifying children with PNN-CP attending acquired brain injury rehabilitation services.

METHODS

Electronic medical records of children with an acquired brain injury attending the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network and John Hunter Hospital rehabilitation departments 2019-2024 were reviewed by researchers and rehabilitation paediatricians to identify children with PNN-CP. Children who fulfilled the criteria for CP were invited to participate in the CP Register. To evaluate this ascertainment strategy, we (i) ran descriptive statistics to analyse proportional changes of children with PNN-CP on the register and (ii) calculated temporal trends in prevalence per 10,000 live births for birth years 2003-2016, before and after the record ascertainment period.

RESULTS

Of 1051 children with an acquired brain injury, 46 had PNN-CP (2003-2019) and had not previously been included on the register. This ascertainment strategy resulted in increased prevalence of PNN-CP in all 2-year time points between 2003 and 2016 and equated to a 31% improvement in ascertainment of children with PNN-CP on the register.

CONCLUSIONS

Ascertainment of children with PNN-CP for the NSW/ACT CP Register has been improved by systematically reviewing children with an acquired brain injury. This is now part of standard practice, and other registers should consider whether this strategy may improve ascertainment of PNN-CP in their regions.

Cause-Specific Secular Trends and Prevention Measures of Post-Neonatally Acquired Cerebral Palsy in Victoria and Western Australia 1975-2014: A Population-Based Observational Study

AIM

To describe the timing and causes of post-neonatally acquired cerebral palsy (PNN-CP) and map the implementation of relevant preventive strategies against cause-specific temporal trends in prevalence.

METHODS

Data for a 1975-2014 birth cohort of children with PNN-CP (brain injury between 28 days and 2 years of age) were drawn from the Victorian and Western Australian CP Registers. Descriptive statistics were used to report causal events and timing. Poisson regression models were used to investigate the strength of evidence for cause-specific temporal trends in prevalence. Preventive strategies were mapped alongside cause-specific trends.

RESULTS

Amongst 512 children, causes of PNN-CP included infections (31%, n = 157), head injuries (24%, n = 121) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) (23%, n = 119). Infections were the only main causal group of PNN-CP that declined significantly (p = 0.014). Fifty two percent (n = 267) of the PNN-CP cohort acquired their brain injury before 6 months of age, the majority having an infectious cause (57%, n = 90). Improved clinical care and a range of preventive strategies, including childhood vaccination programs, occurred during this period.

CONCLUSION

Infants under 6 months are a priority group for preventive strategies for PNN-CP. Declining temporal trends were observed for PNN-CP caused by infection, and the causal subgroup of CVAs associated with surgery. Interventions aimed at further reducing the risk of head injury, CVAs and infections, are needed to reduce the prevalence of PNN-CP.

Cerebral palsy in Australia: birth prevalence, 1995-2016, and differences by residential remoteness: a population-based register study

OBJECTIVE

To examine recent changes in the birth prevalence of cerebral palsy in Australia; to examine the functional mobility of children with cerebral palsy by residential remoteness.

STUDY DESIGN

Population-based register study; analysis of Australian Cerebral Palsy Register (ACPR) data.

SETTING, PARTICIPANTS

Children with cerebral palsy born in Australia, 1995-2016, and included in the ACPR at the time of the most recent state/territory data provision (31 July 2022).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Change in birth prevalence of cerebral palsy, of cerebral palsy acquired pre- or perinatally (in utero to day 28 after birth), both overall and by gestational age group (less than 28, 28-31, 32-36, 37 or more weeks), and of cerebral palsy acquired post-neonatally (day 29 to two years of age); gross motor function classification by residential remoteness.

RESULTS

Data for 10 855 children with cerebral palsy born during 1995-2016 were available, 6258 of whom were boys (57.7%). The birth prevalence of cerebral palsy in the three states with complete case ascertainment (South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia) declined from 2.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-2.4) cases per 1000 live births in 1995-1996 to 1.5 (95% CI, 1.3-1.7) cases per 1000 live births in 2015-2016. The birth prevalence of pre- or perinatally acquired cerebral palsy declined from 2.0 (95% CI, 1.7-2.3) to 1.4 (95% CI, 1.2-1.6) cases per 1000 live births; statistically significant declines were noted for all gestational ages except 32-36 weeks. The decline in birth prevalence of post-neonatally acquired cerebral palsy, from 0.15 (95% CI, 0.11-0.21) to 0.08 (95% CI, 0.05-0.12) cases per 1000 live births, was not statistically significant. Overall, 3.4% of children with cerebral palsy (307 children) lived in remote or very remote areas, a larger proportion than for all Australians (2.0%); the proportion of children in these areas who required wheelchairs for mobility was larger (31.3%) than that of children with cerebral palsy in major cities or regional areas (each 26.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

The birth prevalence of cerebral palsy declined markedly in Australia during 1995-2016, reflecting the effects of advances in maternal and perinatal care. Our findings highlight the need to provide equitable, culturally safe access to antenatal services for women, and to health and disability services for people with cerebral palsy, across Australia.

Hip displacement in children with post-neonatal cerebral palsy and acquired brain injury: a systematic review

AIM

To systematically review the prevalence, risk factors and timing of onset of hip displacement in children with a post-neonatal (PNN) brain injury with regards to hip surveillance recommendations.

METHOD

A search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science was conducted on 22nd February 2022. Studies were included if they reported presence of, and risk factors for, hip displacement in children with PNN brain injury. Data was extracted on patient characteristics, and analyzed in terms of risk factors of interest and timing of development of hip displacement.

RESULTS

Six studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 408 participants). All were cohort studies: five retrospective and one prospective. Rates of hip displacement ranged from 1% to 100%, and were higher in children with diffuse brain injury at an early age, who were non-ambulant and had spastic quadriplegia. Hip displacement and hip dislocation were first identified at one and three months respectively following PNN brain injury.

INTERPRETATION

Evidence on hip displacement in children with PNN brain injury is sparse and low quality. Children who remain non-ambulant after diffuse PNN brain injury before five years of age appear most at risk of developing progressive hip displacement and earlier hip surveillance is recommended.

Post-neonatally acquired cerebral palsy aetiology: The need for classification and collaboration

This commentary is on the original article by Pudig et al. on pages 250–257 of this issue.