Life expectancy in children with cerebral palsy

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Abstract
Objective : To determine life expectancy of children with cerebral palsy. Design : Cohort analysis, by means of register compiled from multiple sources of ascertainment, of all children with cerebral palsy born during 1966-84 to mothers resident in Mersey region. Status of children was determined by flagging through NHS central register. Subjects : 1258 subjects with idiopathic cerebral palsy, of whom 1251 were traced and included in analysis. Main outcome measures : Effect of functional ability (ambulation, manual dexterity, and mental ability), sex, birth weight, and gestational age on survival. Results : 20 year survival for whole cohort was 89.3% for females and 86.9% for males. For subjects with no severe functional disabilities 20 year survival was 99% (95% confidence interval 98% to 100%), while subjects severely disabled in all three functional groups had 20 year survival of 50% (42% to 58%). Subjects with birth weight <=2500 g had 20 year survival of 92% (89% to 95%), while those with birth weight Conclusions : Life expectancy of this cohort of children with cerebral palsy was greater than has been suggested in some previous studies. This has important implications for social, educational, and health services.

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