Socio-Economic Differences in Cerebral Palsy in Sweden
Author Information
Author(s): Anders Hjern, Kristina Thorngren-Jerneck
Primary Institution: Centre for Epidemiology, National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm, Sweden
Hypothesis
Are there socio-economic differences in the incidence of cerebral palsy in Sweden, and if so are these mediated by perinatal risk factors?
Conclusion
This study suggests that there is a continuous socio-economic gradient for cerebral palsy in Sweden, with perinatal complications mediating some of this gradient.
Supporting Evidence
- Children in households with low SES had a higher odds ratio of CP (OR 1.49) compared with high SES.
- Perinatal complications, particularly preterm birth, were significant risk factors for cerebral palsy.
- The study analyzed a large cohort of over 800,000 children to assess the socio-economic gradient.
Takeaway
Kids from poorer families are more likely to have cerebral palsy, and problems during birth can make this worse.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from national registers, including logistic regression and chi-square analyses.
Potential Biases
Possible bias due to the reliance on hospital discharge data for identifying cases of cerebral palsy.
Limitations
The study may have overestimated the socio-economic gradient due to potential misclassification of cerebral palsy diagnoses.
Participant Demographics
The study included 805,543 children born in Sweden from 1987 to 1993, with 1,437 diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Confidence Interval
1.49 [95% C.I. 1.16–1.91]
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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