Gestational Age and Risk for Cerebral Palsy: A Surprising Discovery

Among term and postterm newborns, CP prevalence is lowest at 40 weeks' gestation and highest at 37 and ≥42 weeks' gestation.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a nonprogressive motor encephalopathy characterized by impairment of movement or posture and is presumed to be the result of injury or anomaly in the developing brain. Prevalence of CP has remained at 1.5 to 2.5 per 1000 live births for several decades. Although the etiology in most cases is unknown, the strongest risk factor for CP is preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation). However, about 75% of infants with CP are born after 36 weeks' gestation. In a population-based study, researchers examined the association between gestational age and CP in nearly 1.7 million term and postterm singleton newborns (gestational age, 37–44 weeks) recorded in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1967 through 2001. Gestational age w…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Gestational Age and Risk for Cerebral Palsy: A Surprising Discovery

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Reviewing Author