title: The health of children and young people with cerebral palsy: a longitudinal, population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral palsy (CP) is a chronic condition about which little is known in relation to the long term stability of and factors influencing health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the health status of 4-17 year olds with ambulant CP, compare with the general population and identify factors predicting change in health over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal, clinical survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A regional hospital-based Gait Analysis Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Those aged 4-17 years and able to walk at least 10m independently were identified from a case register of people with CP. A total of 184 subjects took part (38% of all eligibles in the region); 154 (84%) returned for a second assessment on average 2.5 years later.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Child Health Questionnaire (Parent-form-50) was completed by 184 parents at time 1, and 156 at time 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children and young people with CP have significantly poorer health across a number of domains when compared to children in the general child population. Over time improvements occurred in behaviour (p=0.01), family activities (p<0.001) and physical functioning (p=0.05). Linear regression showed that gross motor function (p<0.001) and cerebral palsy subtype (p<0.05) were associated with changes in physical functioning; age was associated with changes in behaviour (p=0.007) and family activities (p=0.01); and communication ability was significantly associated with changes in family activities (p=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children and young people with CP have poorer health than their able bodied peers but relatively stable health over 2.5 years. Where change occurred, it was for the better.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, 10 Malone Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. nichola.mccullough@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nichola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McCullough
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parkes
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Brona C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: McDowell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires