title: Congenital anomalies in cerebral palsy: where to from here?
abstract: Proportions of cases of cerebral palsy (CP) with congenital anomalies recorded in Australian CP registers range from 15% to 40%. The anomalies seen in CP are extremely variable. We have identified that CP registers often do not have quality data on congenital anomalies, necessitating linkage with congenital anomaly registers. However, a lack of unified processes and definitions in congenital anomaly registers and data collections means that linkages are complex, need to be carefully planned, and limitations acknowledged. Historically in CP research, congenital anomalies have been classified by International Classification of Disease codes, then combined into brain and other major and minor anomalies. Systems have been developed to classify congenital anomalies into aetiologically related groups, but such a classification has yet to be trialled in CP. It is anticipated that primary prevention of a small proportion of cases of CP is possible through the primary prevention of congenital anomalies, especially those due to teratogens. Owing to the anticipated low prevalence of each subgroup, global collaboration will be required to further these lines of enquiry.
authors.affiliation: Cerebral Palsy Alliance, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.affiliation: Cerebral Palsy Alliance, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Shona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.affiliation: Cerebral Palsy Alliance, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.|Grace Centre for Newborn Care, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Badawi
authors.affiliation: South Australian Birth Defects Register, Women's and Children's Hospital, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: South Australian Birth Defects Register, Women's and Children's Hospital, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Cerebral Palsy Alliance, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smithers-Sheedy
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence