Article

The aim of the study was to investigate whether impairments associated with
cerebral palsy were stable between childhood and adolescence.
The Study
of Participation of Children with Cerebral Palsy Living in Europe (SPARCLE)
longitudinal study was conducted in nine European regions. In total, 818 children
aged 8 to 12 years were randomly selected from population-based registers; 594
(73%) were followed up at the age of 13 to 17 years (344 males, 250 females;
median age 10y 4mo) Research associates visited them in their homes and recorded
their motor function and additional impairments. Stability of impairment was
assessed using the weighted kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The proportion of
participants whose level of impairment remained unchanged varied from 63% for
fine motor function to 98% for hearing. For gross motor function, communication,
and cognitive level, the kappa and the lower bound of its 95% confidence interval
(CI) were above 0.75, indicating stability between childhood and adolescence; for
fine motor function and feeding, the kappa was above 0.75 but the lower bound of
the 95% CI was below 0.75, indicating probable stability; for seizures and
vision, the kappa was below 0.75, although the upper bound of the 95% CI was
above 0.75, indicating possible change; for hearing the kappa and its entire CI
were below 0.75, indicating change. Overall, 81% of participants had no seizures
in childhood, of whom 93% were seizure-free in adolescence. INTERPRETATION: Motor
function and additional impairments were generally stable between childhood and
adolescence.
CI - (c) 2014 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS