Comparative mortality in cerebral palsy patients in California, 1980-1996.
BACKGROUND
The large database of the California Department of Developmental Services provides a data source for mortality rates in persons with mental retardation by age, sex, severity, cause and associated conditions. This study involves patients with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.


RESULTS
After a table of demographic data, four tables are used to show detailed age-related observed and expected mortality rates for Cerebral Palsy patients by sex and a severity factor that divides the patients into two groups of approximately equal size. The factor used was quadriplegia (all four limbs involved in motor dysfunction). Spasticity was the predominant feature of the motor dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Excess mortality was moderate in the less severe Cerebral Palsy patients, but was higher in those with quadriplegia (overall EDR--Excess Death Rate--about 6 per 1000 and 16 per 1000, respectively). In less severe cases EDR was higher at ages 1-4 years, the almost constant to age 49, then rose with advancing age. In case with quadriplegia EDR decreased in childhood and young adults to a relatively stable minimum at ages 25-49, then increased at older ages. There was little sex difference in EDR.
Singer
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RB
Dept. of Statistics, Univ. of California, Riverside 92521, USA.
Strauss
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D
Shavelle
R
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007352:Insurance, Life / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology