title: Predictors for early diagnosis of cerebral palsy from national registry data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As early intervention is important in cerebral palsy (CP), an early diagnosis is desirable. The aim of this study was to establish the median diagnostic age of CP and to identify predictors of an early diagnosis in a population-based cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Danish National Cerebral Palsy Registry (NCPR), we identified 1291 children with CP (764 males, 527 females) born between 1995 and 2003. The date of diagnosis was defined as the day the parents were told that their child was spastic or had CP. We calculated the age of diagnosis and analysed the following predictors: type of CP, degree of motor disability, cerebral ultrasonography results, epilepsy, gestational age, and degree of cognitive impairment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found the overall median corrected diagnostic age of CP to be 11 months. Early diagnosis was associated with the type of CP, presence of epilepsy, a high degree of motor disability, and abnormalities in the cerebral ultrasonography. The gestational age was not associated with the diagnostic age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The median diagnostic age implies that half of the Danish children with CP will be able to enter an early intervention program before 1 year of age. A late diagnosis was associated with less severe symptoms, and gestational age did not influence the diagnostic age.
authors: Paediatric Department A, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: Jakob Bie
authors: JB
authors: Granild-Jensen
authors: Paediatric Department A, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: Gija
authors: G
authors: Rackauskaite
authors: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Esben Meulengracht
authors: EM
authors: Flachs
authors: Department for Children and Adolescence, Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Uldall
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries