Mortality from 1 to 16-18 years in bilateral cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain mortality from 1 to 18 years, and predictors of mortality.


METHODS
Long-term follow-up of population cohort born 1989-1992.


METHODS
Births in South East Thames Region.


METHODS
346 children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Mortality; predictors of mortality.


RESULTS
98% of the cohort were traced. 61/340 (17.9%) had died by age 16-18 years at a steady mortality. The main predictive factor was severity of impairment of functional ability (hazard ratio 5.7, 95% CI 2.1 to 15.0 for poor hand manipulation; 6.8 (1.9 to 23.9).for severe communication problems).


CONCLUSIONS
Although there were deaths throughout the childhood and teenage years, the majority of children with bilateral CP are likely to survive to adulthood, especially if they do not have major functional impairment at 2 years. This confirms findings of other studies of children with CP.
Baird
Gillian
G
Newcomen Child Development Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London SE1 9RT, UK. gillian.baird@gstt.nhs.uk
Allen
Elizabeth
E
Scrutton
David
D
Knight
Adrienne
A
McNee
Anne
A
Will
Elspeth
E
Elbourne
Diana
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis