M. Topp et al., TREND IN CEREBRAL-PALSY BIRTH PREVALENCE IN EASTERN DENMARK - BIRTH-YEAR PERIOD 1979-86, Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, 11(4), 1997, pp. 451-460
To investigate changes in cerebral palsy birth prevalence and perinata
l mortality rate by different gestational age groups, 1979-86, cerebra
l palsy cases in eastern Denmark were identified from the Danish Cereb
ral Palsy Register, and information on birth and mortality rates was s
ought in the Danish Medical Birth Register. From 1979-82 to 1983-86, t
he birth prevalence of cerebral palsy increased from 2.6 to 3.0 per 10
00 (P < 0.05). The rate for infants of 31 weeks' gestation or more did
not change, whereas a significant increase was observed in infants be
low 31 weeks (85-123 per 1000, P < 0.05). In the same periods, perinat
al mortality in eastern Denmark decreased significantly from 8.6 to 7.
8 per 1000. The decrease in stillbirth rate was significant in all sub
groups of gestational ages except in those of 28-30 weeks' gestation.
The early neonatal mortality rate decreased significantly only in infa
nts below 31 weeks (282-239 per 1000, P < 0.05). Thus, in eastern Denm
ark, cerebral palsy birth prevalence has increased from birth-year per
iod 1979-82 to 1983-86 because of an increased rate in preterm infants
below 31 weeks, who at the same time had a reduced risk of early neon
atal death.