Definitions of Cerebral Palsy and Their Role in Epidemiologic Research

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To satisfy the need for a precise definition for epidemiologic research, "cerebral palsy" is defined as those disorders arising during the perinatal period (i. e. from conception to the end of the neonatal period or 1st month) affecting the motor function of the brain and in which the dysfunction is recognized prior to the end of infancy (2 years). In other retrospective studies in specified populations, cerebral palsy has not been defined or the definitions have been so vague that they do not offer any reasonable basis for geographic, racial, socioeconomic or other comparisons [long dash]a major goal in the effort through epidemiologic research to clarify the etiology of this heterogenous group of neurological disorders. Various estimates of the frequency of cerebral palsy as reported in the literature are reviewed and the results of a survey of diagnosed cases in Rochester, Minnesota are presented. Following the definition given above, the birth incidence for that community was about 0.6 cases per 1000 births. The prevalence rate in 1954 was about 0.7 per 1000 population. These values are less than those reported in most other surveys; the principal reason for the discrepancy relates to the viewpoint of what should constitute "cerebral palsy" cases in retrospective field studies.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: