Epidemiological Study of Cerebral Palsy in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, during 1977-2000 Part 1: Incidence Pattern of Cerebral Palsy in Shiga Prefecture with Reference to Birth Weight and Gestational Age

Abstract

  The prevalences of cerebral palsy (CP) among 6-year-old children in Shiga Prefecture born during 1977-2000 were compared in eight successive 3-year periods (period I-VIII) with reference to birth weight and gestational age.
  During the 24-year surveillance period, among 349,514 children born in Shiga Prefecture, 569 children had CP at the age of 6 years, thus the prevalence was 1.63 per 1,000 live births. The prevalence increased significantly in period V compared to previous periods. There were no significant differences among period V-VIII.
  The proportion of CP with low birth weight and lower gestational age increased progressively, and two-thirds of CP in the period VIIIhad a LBW and/or preterm gestation.