The effect of increased bilirubin level on the risk of cerebral palsy

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Increased bilirubin level in blood is mentioned among the potential factors with causal effect on cerebral palsy. The objective of the study was the analysis of its effect on the risk of cerebral palsy, considering all the significant risk factors as well as division into singleton, twin, term and preterm births. The research included a group of 278 children with cerebral palsy from selected educational-therapeutic institutions in Poland. The control group consisted of data from medical records of 435 neonates born in God’s Mercy Hospital in Limanowa, Poland. The analysis considered socio-economic factors, factors associated with pregnancy and parturition as well as accompanying disturbances and diseases of the children. Constructed models of logistic regression were used in statistcal analysis. The results were presented as the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Testing the effect of increased bilirubin level in blood showed that the increased level of bilirubin is a significant predictor of CP in the categories of all children (OR 2.52, 95% CI: 1.47–4.33), children from singleton births (OR 2.66, 95% CI: 1.55–4.57), term births (OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.24–3.84), term singleton births (OR 2.35, 95% CI: 1.31–4.21), preterm births (4.87, 95% CI: 1.56–15.21) and preterm singleton births (OR 3.62, 95% CI: 1.24–10.58). Increased bilirubin level is an independent risk factor in the development of cerebral palsy.</jats:p>

Maternal age as a risk factor for cerebral palsy

“…Moreover, a limiting factor in this study should be also mentioned. It was broadly discussed in previous papers concerning the various factors influencing the risk of CP (Sternal et al 2020a(Sternal et al , 2020b(Sternal et al , 2021. The authors are aware of the limitations of the retrospective method and further studies, if possible, should be conducted by the prospective method as well.…”

“…This work is only a fragment of extensive scientific research, the aim of which was to select, among demographic, antenatal, perinatal, and neonatal factors, independent risk factors for the development of CP (Sternal et al 2020a(Sternal et al , 2020b(Sternal et al , 2021. Factors influencing pregnancy and childbirth play a significant role in the eti-ology of CP; therefore, the first part of the questionnaire covered the mother's medical history, family, and obstetric history, as well as questions about childbirth, pregnancy, gynecological disorders, and information about the child's father.…”