Association between socioeconomic status and cerebral palsy

Abstract

BackgroundThe present study investigated the annual prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) among children aged <7 years in Taiwan and the association between socioeconomic status and CP prevalence.MethodsData from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for the 2002−2008 period were used in this population-based study. Severe and total CP were defined according to catastrophic illness certificate and medical claim records, respectively. The annual CP prevalence was calculated as the number of children with CP among all children aged <7 years.ResultsFrom 2002 to 2008, the annual prevalence of total and severe CP ranged from 1.9 to 2.8 and from 1.1 to 1.4 per 1000 children, respectively. Boys were 30% more likely to have CP than girls [adjusted relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) ranged from 1.3 (1.2−1.4) to 1.4 (1.2−1.5)]. Low family income was associated with a higher CP prevalence [adjusted RR (95% CI) ranged from 5.1 (4.2−6.2) to 6.4 (5.4−7.6)]. The prevalence of CP in rural area was higher than that in urban or suburban areas. The mortality rate of severe CP ranged from 12.2−22.7 per 1000 children within the 7 years study period.ConclusionsThe prevalence of CP in Taiwan is similar to that in Western countries. A higher prevalence of CP is associated with male sex, low income, and rural residential location. Our findings provide insights into CP epidemiology among the Chinese population.

Impact of social disadvantage on cerebral palsy severity

“…Our findings concur with international research that has demonstrated that low neighbourhood SES is associated with increased risk of severe intellectual impairment and greater motor impairment . Our study is the first to show a relationship between low neighbourhood SES and the presence of severe comorbidities other than intellectual impairment.…”

“…Our findings concur with international research that has demonstrated that low neighbourhood SES is associated with increased risk of severe intellectual impairment 14 and greater motor impairment. [15][16][17] Our study is the first to show a relationship between low neighbourhood SES and the presence of severe comorbidities other than intellectual impairment. In Canada, the relationship between low neighbourhood SES and reduced mobility in 5-year-old children with CP was only seen in those who were born preterm.…”

“…In studies from Canada, the USA, the UK, and Taiwan, low neighbourhood and family socio-economic status (SES) and/or low maternal education have been associated with increasing severity of motor impairment and/or intellectual impairment in CP. [13][14][15][16][17] In the USA, African-American children have been reported to have more severe functional motor limitations compared to white children with CP. 16,18 If children with CP from socio-economically disadvantaged settings are more likely to have severe functional outcomes, this inequity may be compounded by educational disadvantage and poorer access to early intervention, which has clear implications for policy and practice.…”

Optimal Management of Undescended Testis in Boys with Cerebral Palsy. A Debate

“…These findings may very well correlate with the fact that the timing of treatment of UDT in general can be influenced by those socio-economic fac- tors. Certainly, it would be a tragedy if those who are at a higher risk for CP share the same risk factors for late or insufficient management of UDT [Kokorowski et al, 2010;Springer et al, 2012;Forthun et al, 2018;Tseng et al, 2018]. In a recent systematic review the lifetime financial burden of patients with CP have been discussed.…”

Epidemiological and socioeconomic profile of cerebral palsy from the aspect of mothers in giresun, Turkey

“…Most common residential location of the CP patients was the rural areas similar to the literature. 17 Most of the male CP patients were living in the city where the females were living in villages. Contrast to the previous reports 18 the education level of the CP patients' parents in our study was very low.…”