Korean Database of Cerebral Palsy: A Report on Characteristics of Cerebral Palsy in South Korea

Abstract

ObjectiveTo introduce the Korean Database of Cerebral Palsy (KDCP) and to provide the first report on characteristics of subjects with cerebral palsy (CP).MethodsThe KDCP is a nationwide database of subjects with CP, which includes a total of 773 subjects. Characteristics such as demography, birth history, onset and type of CP, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, functional ability and accompanying impairments, were extracted and analyzed.ResultsPreterm delivery and low birth weight were found in 59.51% and 60.28% of subjects, respectively. Postnatally acquired CP was 15.3%. The distribution of CP was 87.32%, 5.17%, and 1.81% for spastic, dyskinetic, and ataxic types, respectively. Functional ability was the worst in dyskinetic CP, as compared to other types of CP. Speech-language disorder (43.9%), ophthalmologic impairment (32.9%), and intellectual disability (30.3%) were the three most common accompanying impairments. The number of accompanying impairments was elevated in subjects with preterm birth and low birth weight. Brain MRI showed normal findings, malformations, and non-malformations in 10.62%, 9.56%, and 77.35% of subjects, respectively. Subjects with normal MRI findings had better functional ability than subjects with other MRI findings. MRI findings of a non-malformation origin, such as periventricular leukomalacia, were more common in subjects with preterm birth and low birth weight.ConclusionThe KDCP and its first report are introduced in this report, wherein the KDCP established agreement on terminologies of CP. This study added information on the characteristics of subjects with CP in South Korea, which can now be compared to those of other countries and ethnicities.

Cerebral palsy information system with an approach to information architecture: a systematic review

“…A total of 39 articles on the components of CP information system architecture were reviewed, of which 13 had been conducted in Europe,23 26–37 10 in the USA,38–47 6 in Australia,48–53 7 in Asia1 12 54–58 and 3 in Africa 59–61…”

“…KDCP includes two databases: KDCP1 for people aged <4 years and KDCP2 for those aged four or above. KDCP comprises four data sources, including diagnosis and history, related problems, management and results 57. Another example is databases on intellectual disability in Europe, aiming to study the feasibility of creating a framework for monitoring and undertaking collaborative research on intellectual disability at the European level based on the existing databases of children with this disability.…”

“…Twenty articles (51.28%) cited various international classifications of diseases, including ICD-10, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), ICE-CY, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), utilised for standardising datasets related to CP 1 23 27 28 36–41 43 44 46 49 50 54 57–59 61. The majority of cases were related to the use of ICF and GMFCS.…”

“…KDCP comprises four data sources, including diagnosis and history, related problems, management and results. 57 Another example is databases on intellectual disability in Europe, aiming to study the feasibility of creating a framework for monitoring and undertaking collaborative research on intellectual disability at the European level based on the existing databases of children with this disability. The characteristics of five existing European intellectual disability databases from four countries (Iceland, Latvia, Ireland and two in France) were discussed on the basis of ideal criteria set by a working group on childhood intellectual disability as part of the SCPE Network.…”

Cost of Rehabilitation Treatment of Patients With Cerebral Palsy in Korea

“…According to unpublished results of work undertaken by the authors, about 25%–30% of children diagnosed with CP received inpatient rehabilitation treatment while about 60%–80% of them received outpatient rehabilitation treatment. According to a study based on the Korean Database of Cerebral Palsy [ 16 ], more than 70% of children with CP were classified as levels II–V in the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Based on these results, while almost all CP patients should have been receiving rehabilitation treatment in childhood, the actual rate of treatment was insufficient.…”