Prevalence of cerebral palsy and its motor distribution in children followed up at a Rehabilitation Center in Rio de Janeiro
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction: In Brazil, epidemiological data on cerebral palsy remain limited. Understanding its profile within the Brazilian context is crucial to guide appropriate treatment and policy development. Objective: Describe the clinical profile of a subset of children with the diagnosis of
CP and its motor distribution from a rehabilitation center located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Method: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to June 2024. Data were collected from a randomized group of children with CP. Also, the participants were classified according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Results: Sample included 756 children with CP; 436 (57.7%) participants were male, and 320 (42.3%) females The most common risk factor was preterm hypoxic-ischemic insult (36.6%). Spastic (77.9%) quadriplegia (55.3%) was the most common clinical presentation. Comorbidities including epilepsy (62.7%), dysphagia
(43.3%), sialorrhea (30.2%) and constipation (32.1%) were noted. Hip dislocations (45.8%) and scoliosis (24.6%) were the most common orthopedic conditions. GMFCS classified 303 (40.1%) participants as level V; 118 (15.6%) level IV; 88 (11.6%) level III, 67 (8.9%) level II and 127 (16.8%) level I. Neuroimaging findings comprise hypoxic-ischemic injury (54.1%) as the most prevalent finding. Conclusion: Most children with CP in our sample have severe functional impairment, increasing
the risk of adverse outcomes including higher rates of clinical comorbidities such as epilepsy. Implementing comprehensive public policies and rehabilitation strategies is essential to ensure continuous, high-quality care for this population.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
1. Rosenbaum P, Paneth N, Leviton A, Goldstein M, Bax M, Damiano D, et al. A report: the definition and classification of cerebral palsy April 2006. Dev Med Child Neurol Suppl. 2007; 109:8-14.
2. Nelson KB, Blair E. The epidemiology of cerebral palsy. In: Clinics in Developmental Medicine. London: Mac Keith Press; 2015. p. 13-22.
3. Australian Cerebral Palsy Register Group. Report of the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register, birth years 1995-2014. Sydney: ACPR; 2018.
4. Novak I, Jackman M, Finch-Edmondson M, Fahey M. Cerebral palsy. Lancet. 2025;406(10499):174-88. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00686-5.
5. Karim T, Muhit M, Khandaker G. Epidemiology of cerebral palsy in children
in low- and middle-income countries: prevalence and risk factors. Int J Disabil Dev Educ. 2019;66(6):649-60.
6. Vasconcelos RLP, Moura TL, Campos TF, Lindquist ARR, Guerra RO. Clinical profile of children with cerebral palsy attending a referral center in northeastern Brazil. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2009;27(3):3038.
7. Rosenbaum PL, Palisano RJ, Bartlett DJ, Galuppi BE, Russell DJ. Development of the Gross Motor Function Classification System for cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008;50(4):249-53.
8. Karim T, Muhit M, Khandaker G, Smithers-Sheedy H, Novak I. Epidemiol
ogy of cerebral palsy in low- and middle income countries: insights from
Bangladesh. J Pediatr Child Health. 2019;55(5):582-8.
9. Kolb B, Gibb R. Brain plasticity and be haviour in the developing brain. J Can Acad Child Adolesc 2011;20(4):265-76. Psychiatry.
10. Little WJ. The influence of abnormal parturition, difficult labours, premature birth, and asphyxia neonatorum, on the mental and physical condition of the child. Trans Obstet Soc Lond. 1862; 3:293-344.
11. McIntyre S, Goldsmith S, Webb A, Ehlinger V, Hollung SJ, McConnell K, et
al. Global prevalence of cerebral palsy: a systematic analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2022;64(12):1494-506.
12. Australian Cerebral Palsy Register Group. Australian Cerebral Palsy Regis
ter Report 2023: birth years 1995-2016. Sydney: ACPR; 2023.
13. Lacey C, et al. Cerebral palsy in Australia: birth prevalence, 1995–2016,
and differences by residential location. Med J Aust. 2024;221(10).
14. Christensen D, Van Naarden Braun K, Doernberg NS, Maenner MJ, Arneson CL, Durkin MS, et al. Prevalence of cerebral palsy, co-occurring autism spectrum disorders, and motor functioning – Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, USA, 2008. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2014;56(1):59-65.
15. Mazzitelli C, et al. Functioning profile and related impairments of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy from various Brazilian regions. BMC Pediatr. 2024;24.
16. de Souza R, et al. Epidemiological and functional profile of children with cerebral palsy. Children (Basel). 2025;12.
17. Gong C, Liu A, Lian B, Wu X, Zeng P, Hao C, et al. Prevalence and related factors of epilepsy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pediatr. 2023; 11:1220308.
18. Pavone P, et al. Epilepsy in cerebral palsy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical features. J Clin Med. 2023;12(1):346.
19. Kakooza-Mwesige A, Andrews C, Peterson S, Mangen FW, Eliasson AC, Forssberg H. Prevalence of cerebral palsy in Uganda: a population-based study. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5(12): e1275-82.
20. Novak I, Morgan C, Adde L, Blackman J, Boyd RN, Brunstrom-Hernandez J, et al. Early, accurate diagnosis and early intervention in cerebral palsy: advances in diagnosis and treatment. JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(9):897-905.
21. American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM). Hip Surveillance in Cerebral Palsy Care Pathway. 2024 update. Available from AACPDM.