Life expectancy in children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine life expectancy of children with cerebral palsy.

DESIGN

Cohort analysis, by means of register compiled from multiple sources of ascertainment, of all children with cerebral palsy born during 1966-84 to mothers resident in Mersey region. Status of children was determined by flagging through NHS central register.

SUBJECTS

1258 subjects with idiopathic cerebral palsy, of whom 1251 were traced and included in analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Effect of functional ability (ambulation, manual dexterity, and mental ability), sex, birth weight, and gestational age on survival.

RESULTS

20 year survival for whole cohort was 89.3% for females and 86.9% for males. For subjects with no severe functional disabilities 20 year survival was 99% (95% confidence interval 98% to 100%), while subjects severely disabled in all three functional groups had 20 year survival of 50% (42% to 58%). Subjects with birth weight < or = 2500 g had 20 year survival of 92% (89% to 95%), while those with birth weight > 2500 g had survival of 87% (84% to 89%). Subjects with gestational age of > 37 weeks had 20 year survival of 93% (91% to 96%), while those with gestational age > or = 37 weeks had survival of 85% (83% to 88%). Birth weight and gestational age were less predictive of survival than functional disability. Best statistical model used gestational age and number of severe functional disabilities as predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Life expectancy of this cohort of children with cerebral palsy was greater than has been suggested in some previous studies. This has important implications for social, educational, and health services.