Authors:
McIntyre S; Taitz D, Keogh J; Goldsmith S; Badawi N; Blair E
Authors notes:
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 2012:55(6):499-508
Keywords:
Cerebral Palsy, Prevention, Epidemiology, Risk factor
Abstract
The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review in order to identify the risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) in children born at term.
The secondary aim was to ascertain if the potential for prevention of these risk factors has been adequately explored.
Ten risk factors for term-born infants were statistically significant in each study: placental abnormalities, major and minor birth defects, low birthweight, meconium aspiration, instrumental/emergency Caesarean delivery, birth asphyxia, neonatal seizures, respiratory distress syndrome, hypoglycaemia, and neonatal infections.
Strategies for possible prevention currently exist for three of these. Interpretation Ten consistent risk factors have been identified, some with potential for prevention.
Efforts to prevent these risk factors to interrupt the pathway to CP should be extended.